New Delhi, 15th March, 2011: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) President and CEO John J. Castellani issued the following statement today on receiving recognition from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International:

“PhRMA is excited to be recognized by The Rotary Foundation for our contributions and efforts to improve the health of vulnerable populations in India. For over the past three years, we have supported the Foundation’s PolioPlus program in India through grants that have been matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. More recently, we have directed a portion of our grants to wellness camps that focus on the early detection of chronic diseases in impoverished neighbors.

“For more than 20 years, Rotary has led global efforts to rid the world of disease through their model of public-private cooperation. The Foundation has contributed over US$1 billion and thousands of volunteer-hours to the PolioPlus program, helping to vaccinate over two billion children worldwide. Rotary International has a membership of over 1.2 million members in over 200 countries and geographical areas, providing humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards, and helping to build goodwill worldwide. The effort to eradicate polio of which Rotary is a spearheading partner was described in the Academy Award nominated documentary, The Final Inch, as the greatest global mobilization of people and public resources outside of world wars.

“We are more than pleased and honored to receive this recognition from Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, Chair of The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Carol Pandak, Manager of the Foundation’s PolioPlus program. Through working with other organizations, like Rotary International, we will continue our dedication in broadening patient access to safe and effective medicines to help patients around the world fight disease.”

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $45.8 billion in 2009 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $65.3 billion in 2009.

PhRMA Internet Address: http://www.phrma.org

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: http://www.innovation.org

For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: http://www.pparx.org

For more information on public health emergencies, visit http://www.rxresponse.org

For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: http://www.buysafedrugs.info