Bennet: Colorado companies save lives, fuel economy

“Colorado Health Innovation: Improving Outcomes and Incomes” tour

Denver, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet wrapped up his "Colorado Health Innovation: Improving Outcomes and Incomes Tour" today in Boulder, after making stops in Broomfield, Colorado Springs, and Denver. 

Bennet visited four companies to highlight what Colorado's bioscience and health IT industries are doing for our lives and the economy. They improve lives with innovative technologies, while adding good-paying jobs that improve family incomes.

In order to thrive, these industries cannot be slowed down by unnecessary or outdated regulations. The visits gave Bennet an opportunity to learn more about the important work they do and gather information to make the regulatory process work better. Bennet works on an FDA reform panel in Washington.

"Innovative technologies are fueling Colorado's bioscience and health IT industries and saving lives," Bennet said. "Washington's goal should be to cut unnecessary regulations and eliminate red tape so that innovative new treatments, medicine, medical devices, and apps make it to patients quickly and safely and that Colorado companies can be as competitive as possible in the global marketplace."

Innovation drives better solutions, creates broader access, and lowers health care costs. Our office has done some work to cut red tape while still protecting safety, but there's more we can do. America is ranked 50th in the world in getting products to market. That's why some companies have to launch our products in other countries. Products are often available to patients two to eight years earlier in Europe than the U.S.

Bioscience Facts:

• There are approximately 600 bioscience firms in Colorado. That's up from 400 companies in 2011.
• The average annual wage for employees of bioscience firms is $84,000. That's up from $76,000 in 2011.
• Colorado employs 27,000 people in the bioscience industry.
• Colorado bioscience creates more than 122,000 direct and indirect jobs. That translates into more than $10 billion in payroll.

Tour stops:

Welltok in Boulder is a health IT company that helps people live healthier lives via an app. (April 2, 2015)

Spectranetics in Colorado Springs saves limbs and lives by making lasers that unclog arteries. (April 3, 2015)

Corgenix in Broomfield recently received approval for an Ebola test that can detect the presence of the virus in minutes. (April 7, 2015)

SomaLogic in Boulder is developing lifesaving tests that measure human protein changes from as little as a drop of blood to detect deadly diseases early. (April 7, 2015)

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