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# BIO Principles for Industry/Patient Advocacy Interactions
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/bio-principles-for-industry-patient-advocacy-interactions/
- Published: 2016-08-25T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T21:27:00.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5136614

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) says that it and its members recognize the importance of understanding and considering the needs and preferences of the patients they serve. “To ensure BIO and its members understand and can thoughtfully address what is most important to patients, their caregivers, and their families, we meaningfully, ethically, and responsibly engage with patient advocacy organizations,” it says. The organization has issued [guiding principles](https://www.bio.org/sites/default/files/BIO%5FGuiding%5FPrinciples%5Ffor%20%5FInteraction%5Fwith%5FPatient%20%5FAdvocacy%5FOrganizat....pdf?ref=fdaweb.com) for interaction with patient advocacy organizations to inform BIO members as they engage and continue to develop partnerships with the patient advocacy community.

The principles include: 

- valuing and embracing the autonomy of patient advocacy organizations and recognizing the importance of their maintained integrity to ensure that they are an independent and trusted voice of patients;
- working together as equal partners to communicate patients’ needs and experiences and look for shared solutions for patients and their families;
- providing occasional financial support for activities that may advance shared goals of bringing new treatments to patients faster, with the objective, scope, and deliverables of any collaboration being transparent and ethical;
- respecting the privacy of data that may be received or collected from patient advocacy organizations; and
- believing that individual patients and their healthcare providers are best equipped to choose the appropriate course of treatment to achieve the best possible outcome.