Good Day BIO: New site helps patients join clinical trials

BIO launched a new website to help patients and their families understand and enroll in clinical trials—we have details. Plus, BIO weighed in on today’s House Agriculture Committee hearing on America’s renewable economy, and we may soon have an Under Secretary of Agriculture. (732 words, 3 minutes, 39 seconds)

BIO’s new site helps patients understand and join clinical trials

The chance to enter a clinical trial and be one of the first people to receive a potential cure for a previously untreatable disease can be life-altering. But how does someone get into a trial? 

Introducing Clinical Trials Power of Participation website (ctpop.org), BIO’s new website to help patients and their families understand the clinical trial process and learn how to enroll. 

“Knowledge is power and our goal for the new website is to serve as a resource for patients and their families to learn about clinical trials with information that’s scientifically sound and easily understood,” said BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath. 

In both English and Spanish, the website analyzes the challenge of achieving diversity in clinical trials. It includes discussion of historical reasons for people of color to be suspicious of these trials and an explanation of what biotech companies are doing to regain trust. 

The new website answers questions including:

• What is a clinical trial? Get the basics on trials and explanations of the phases.
• Why participate? Understand benefits for healthy volunteers and patient volunteers.
• How do I find a clinical trial?
• Patient Resource Hub includes information to help patients understand clinical trials, enroll, and participate. 

Click here to visit ctpop.org. 

Why it matters: Clinical trial populations that mirror society’s diversity provide better results. Check out this recent BIO coffee chat blog focused on diversity in clinical trials.

More Health Care News: 

Biopharma Dive: Years later, a first-of-its-kind treatment shows the power, and limits, of gene therapy
“The gene therapy, which would eventually become known as Luxturna, was not an overnight success. Decades of research and setbacks preceded the landmark U.S. approval of Luxturna four years ago, the first the Food and Drug Administration had ever granted to a gene therapy for an inherited disease.”

How we can grow the renewable economy

COP26 ended with historic agreements on fossil fuels and carbon markets—so, what do we do now? We have to grow the renewable economy with science-based legislation, BIO told the House Agriculture Committee.

In context: The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit will hold a hearing, A Look at the Renewable Economy in Rural America, today at 10 AM ET. 

“Growing the renewable economy will require Congress to lead with science and U.S. innovation,” said BIO in comments submitted ahead of the hearing. 

How? “We must incentivize the adoption of innovative, sustainable technologies and practices; and streamline and expedite regulatory pathways for breakthrough technology solutions,” continues Sarah Gallo, BIO’s VP of Agriculture and Environment. 

Okay, but how? With legislation that uses “science-based targets to increase the use of biobased manufacturing and low-carbon fuels”—such as the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which would help farmers participate in carbon markets, and taxcredits for sustainable aviation fuel. 

Why it matters: “As the Committee and Congress begin work on the 2023 Farm Bill, it will be critical to examine policies to combat climate change, strengthen the renewable economy, create jobs, and maintain our supply chains,” we explained. “By accelerating and deploying innovation, American agriculture can be resilient, self-sustaining, and drive our economic recovery.” 

Learn more about biotech solutions for climate.

More Agriculture and Environment News: 

BIOtechNOW: Researchers employ CRISPR against fatal parasite scourging sub-Saharan Africa
“Scientists have long been aware of the human costs of the parasite but hope for a solution has been painfully elusive.” 

Fast Company: This new biodegradable glitter is made entirely from plants
“Almost all of the glitter you’ve ever used is still floating around the planet. This new formulation has just one ingredient, but it’s still as shimmery as the original.”

President Biden’s Tuesday: After yesterday’s celebratory bipartisan bill signing, he’s heading to New Hampshire to speak about the infrastructure bill’s impact on America’s roads and bridges. The New York Times has more on what’s in the bill. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate could vote this afternoon on the confirmation of Robert Bonnie, President Biden’s nominee for Under Secretary of Agriculture. There will be a lot of discussions about energy, with the aforementioned hearing on the renewable economy in rural America, as well as hearings on supply chain solutions for a clean energy economy, transmission infrastructure for renewable energy, and energy prices.