BIO's Coronavirus Hub has 1,000+ users

Today marks 100 days since China announced the detection of the coronavirus (H/T Axios/The Guardian).

We also have a milestone to report: the BIO Coronavirus Hub has 1,000 users. More on that, plus how we can ensure the continuity of the food supply chain, in around 900 words, or 4-and-a-half minutes.

P.S. We're thinking of our readers celebrating Passover, Holy Week, and Easter. With so much going on in our industry, we are continuing business as usual at Good Day BIO in the coming days, but we are wishing you all a joyous holiday and hope you enjoy time with your families, virtually.

BIO's Coronavirus Hub has 1,000+ users

Just about three weeks since the launch, the BIO Coronavirus Hub now has more than 1,000 users. Here’s an update on our efforts and what our members are doing.

ICYMI: We launched hub.bio.org, a platform for companies to post what information and supplies they need and what they can share, from RNA kits to pipette tips to general information and guidance.

And we’ve redesigned it—to better facilitate collaborations that can accelerate the development of biotech solutions to this crisis.

Hub members can create their own company accounts where they can describe an asset, capacity, or service for which they’re seeking a partner or assistance, or where they can connect with other organizations.

And Hub members can post information in 4 categories:

Research & Development
Manufacturing Capacity & Distribution
Supplies
General & Scientific Information

To enable a more accurate search, each category has also been divided into sub-topics—and users can add a searchable product type tag, too.

We also have a fantastic partner,Healthcare Ready, who has been matching critically-needed PPE requests with availability.

The impact: “No response has ever gone this fast before,” Phyllis Arthur, BIO’s VP for Infectious Diseases and Diagnostic Policy, told the Los Angeles Times. “We have gone from genetic sequencing to treatment possibilities within weeks.”

For more industry updates, visit www.bio.org/coronavirus or check out these news stories:

The New York Times: More coronavirus vaccines and treatments move toward human trials
Bucks County Courier Times: Where the biotech industry is with coronavirus treatments

More Health Care News:

Bucks County Courier Times: Greenwood on lack of coronavirus preparations
“The federal government was warned the nation was unprepared for an infectious disease pandemic five years ago, says a former Bucks County congressman, now biotech industry lobbyist.”

STAT: You need a special lab to study the coronavirus. Here’s what it takes to get one up and running
“While researchers can more easily study the genetic sequence of the virus or the epidemiology of the pandemic, conducting a full suite of experiments with the actual virus has to be done in laboratories certified as biosafety level 3, or BSL-3.”

The Atlantic: The best hopes for a coronavirus drug
“If there is a way to stop COVID-19, it will be by blocking its proteins from hijacking, suppressing, and evading humans’ cellular machinery.”

The New York Times (Opinion): Congress needs a plan to confront the coronavirus. I have one.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) explains how we can get back to work.

The New York Times (Opinion): Pharmaceutical profits and public health are not incompatible
“We need the capital and creativity of the private sector to take on the coronavirus.”

No, there’s no need to hoard food—and let’s keep it that way

We’ll say it again: we’re not running out of food—but we need to ensure trade and supply chains continue to meet demand.

With growing uncertainty about the broader impacts of COVID-19, some countries are taking measures to restrict food exports and increase strategic reserves, reports Bloomberg.

Food hoarding is not widespread yet—but we need to make sure more countries don’t start.

As concerns mount over the potential impact of the coronavirus on the global food supply, the heads of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Health Organization (WHO) released a joint statement emphasizing that trade-related measures must not disrupt the global food supply chain.

What they said: “Now is the time to show solidarity, act responsibly and adhere to our common goal of enhancing food security, food safety and nutrition and improving the general welfare of people around the world.”

The food supply chain is fine right now—but restrictions, like “hampering the movement of agricultural and food industry workers and extending border delays for food containers,” could lead to the very problem countries want to avoid.

So, what do we do? The global food supply chain, from inputs to consumer products, relies on the trans-boundary movement of goods from areas of surplus to areas of deficit. Measures that restrict trade, however small, can have severe and unintended consequences. Governments and the private sector must ensure that essential workers in the food supply chain have the protection they need to continue to do their jobs—but now is not the time to raise barriers and threaten the world with greater food insecurity.

More Agriculture & Environment News:

POLITICO Pro [Subscription]: Democrats press EPA to keep comment periods open
“In a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the 78 Democrats asked that EPA wait to close comment periods on public health and environmental rules until 45 days after President Donald Trump declares the national emergency to be over. They also sought to re-open comment periods that have closed since March 13.”

South China Morning Post: China yet to meet key phase one trade deal target due to COVID-19 lockdown
“China was due to release intellectual property action plan 30 working days after phase one trade deal came into force on February 15.”

BIO Beltway Report