A report released yesterday by the House Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence notes the importance of AI as an emerging biotech tool. The document highlights AI’s potential for “biomedical or pharmaceutical research” and to advance food security in agriculture through “development to enhance efficiency in specialty crops.” It also discusses the issue of “AI, inventorship, and patentability,” noting its importance to biotech.
Another six states joined the National Milk Testing Strategy to screen raw milk for avian flu,according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Under the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), APHIS is working in partnership with state veterinarians in collecting and testing milk samples for avian flu. As of yesterday, Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New York, Ohio, Vermont, and Washington joined the first six states—California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania—in participating in the NMTS. “APHIS will continue to work with each of the 48 contiguous states to participate in the strategy until all states are participating and testing under the NMTS,” USDA said.
ICYMI: CMS directs insurers to cover ALS drug. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Dec. 9 directive telling private insurers providing Medicare Advantage plans to cover Biogen’s amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) drug Qalsody after finding instances of noncoverage. Qalsody received accelerated approval last year, but some insurers had been refusing to cover the drug, incorrectly classifying it as “experimental and investigational,” CMS said. “CMS does not make a distinction” between traditional and accelerated approval. “This is a victory for the entire ALS community. It’s critical that FDA-approved treatments are made accessible rather than being labeled as ‘experimental,’” said ALS Association CEO Calaneet Balas.
