BIO Digital Day #1: It's biotech's finest hour.

June 8, 2020
Good Day BIO, again? From June 8-11, we’ll be hitting your inboxes just in time for an afternoon coffee/evening cocktail with a quick recap of the highlights from BIO Digital.  Like what you see? Click here to opt in to continue receiving Good Day BIO after the event…
BIO

Good Day BIO, again? From June 8-11, we’ll be hitting your inboxes just in time for an afternoon coffee/evening cocktail with a quick recap of the highlights from BIO Digital. 

Like what you see? Click here to opt in to continue receiving Good Day BIO after the event.

Here’s a quick recap of BIO Digital Day 1.

Biotech's Finest Hour
Jeremy Levin on Biotech's Finest Hour

That was the message of the BIO Digital opening plenary—and indeed, the whole day. 

The event launched with a special plenary featuring BIO's leadership talking about why this is the moment for biotech to shine. We heard from BIO Chair Dr. Jeremy Levin of Ovid Therapeutics, who spoke from his cattle farm in Connecticut about the positive impact of the industry on global health and social welfare. We had a special tribute to our outgoing President and CEO, Rep. Jim Greenwood, who led our industry for 15 years.

And, we learned a bit more about our new President and CEO, Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, and her journey. Watch:

BIO Digital: Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath's Keynote Address

Read more on the BIO Digital Live Blog.
What We Learned on Day 1
1. Trials for COVID-19 therapeutics are moving along—quickly. From Vir Biotechnology Inc., which is expecting to start trials on its antibodies this summer, to Regeneron starting clinical trials for its antibody cocktail therapy any day now, biotechs are moving with unprecedented speed on R&D for COVID-19 therapeutics. (If you missed our fascinating live plenary, Leveraging Innovative Technology to Treat COVID-19, you can catch a full recap on the BIO Digital Live Blog.) 

2. It's time for new cell and gene therapies. Be patient with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as they push COVID-19 approvals, Dr. Wilson Bryan, Director for the FDA’s Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies, told attendees. The FDA will be responsive, but processes may be slower than normal, meetings may be pushed back, or the format of dialogue may require written responses rather than a normal video conference.

3. Pandemics are not isolated. Jeff May, Vice President, Global Public Policy, Merck & Co., Inc. discussed the severity of pandemics during a session titled International Trade in the Time of COVID-19. “They are not isolated,” he explained. “There is an interest in ensuring good health around the world. We need to support an innovative ecosystem to ensure we are effective in our response.”

4. Collaboration is key for health care systems to adapt post-COVID. “It is key to work together to sustain patient access...especially for highly innovative treatments that do come with a high price tag," said Fabien Berkemeier, Director, Value and Access Strategy, IGES Institut GmbH. "Both payers and companies want patient access to treatments. It is going to be about working together at a time when there are budget constraints.” 

Want more?
  • Head to the BIO Digital Liveblog where we’ve got a team of writers bringing you session highlights, news, and context, live and in real time as the sessions are happening.
  • Join the conversation at @IAmBiotech and @BIOConvention. #BIODigital
  • Did we give you FOMO? It’s not too late to register for full access (including BIO One-on-One Partnering) or our education-only pass.
Clip of the Day
BIO Digital Day #1 Clip of the Day

What They're Saying About #BIODigital

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BIO Digital Day #1 - J&J Innovation Tweet
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The Last Word
Biotechnology in the Time of COVID-19
 
 
BIO Chair Dr. Jeremy Levin, CEO of Ovid Therapeutics, has just published a book!  Biotechnology in the Time of COVID-19: Commentaries from the Front Line is a collection of stories about the biotechnology industry, its purpose, its people and how it has risen to battle the COVID-19 virus, told by 47 leaders of that industry in their own words. This week, get the book for FREE on Amazon.com. We encourage you to download it today...and of course, leave a five-star review!

 
 
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