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IABS (International Association for Biologicals) is an independent, non-profit scientific organization which was founded in Lyons, France, in 1955 by a group of independent experts who identified an urgent need for an improvement in the quality and comparability of the data being exchanged between scientists working in research, development, production, standardization and regulation of human and veterinary biological products.

Our mission is:

• To promote interest, understanding and education in the field of biological products by serving as a unique forum to address significant scientific issues for those involved in research, development, production and regulation of human and veterinary medicinal biological products.

Our objectives are:

• To provide a unique forum where topics of importance to medical scientists and other healthcare professionals are discussed and debated in an open and constructive atmosphere.

• To create an interface among clinical and basic science researchers, biological product developers, public health professionals, manufacturers and regulators.

• To educate healthcare professionals on topics relating to biological product discovery, development, and regulation.

• To promote the Association among those who work in the biopharmaceutical industry, public health organizations, regulatory bodies, academic medicine and research.

IABS has about 350 members in over 50 countries. Every two years, its members elect the Board of Directors who then elects the officers of the Association.

The Board determines which topics of contemporary interest in the field of biological products will be addressed in IABS conferences. In addition, we sponsor the following publications:

• the proceedings of selected international conferences in the symposium series Developments in Biologicals published by S. Karger (Basel),

• Biologicals, an international journal published by Elsevier (London), and

• the IABS Newsletter which reports periodically on IABS activities.

The Board also supports the objectives of major international public health programmes and organisations, in particular, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). IABS is in official relations with both of those organizations.

IABS has several Scientific Committees whose aim is to foster communication between manufacturers, scientific researchers and regulatory authorities concerning the quality control, standardization and efficacy of biological products. A major mechanism for achieving that goal is the organization of international conferences and the promotion of high quality publications on biological products in the Association's journal, Biologicals, and in the Developments in Biologicals series.

In the organisation of conferences to discuss contemporary issues, the IABS does not attempt to intrude on the responsibilities of regulatory agencies. On the contrary, the strength of the Association resides in the conferences organised under its umbrella allowing informal discussion between interested parties. The value of IABS membership is summed up by the following quote from a senior member of the biologicals manufacturing community, "Len Hayflick told me that IABS was very active in the effort to achieve acceptance of diploid cells products in the 1960's. What I have witnessed during my career, is IABS working with WHO on matters like residual cell substrate DNA, cytogenetics and tumorigenicity, and with ICH on genetic stability, virus safety, cell substrates and specifications. While difficult to quantify, these efforts and interactions led directly to better regulations, and IABS members have had a seat at the table for all of this."

3 October 2007