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How can smart policy secure America’s leadership in biotechnology? BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley outlined the path forward in Senate testimony and a joint op-ed with Sen. Todd Young (R-IN). (703 words, 3 minutes, 30 seconds) |
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BIO CEO John Crowley testifies in Senate on how Congress can support biotech |
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In Senate testimony on Wednesday, BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley called for FDA modernization, support for bringing drug manufacturing to the U.S., and reauthorization of the Pediatric Priority Review Voucher (PPRV).
Why it matters: “Biotechnology not only strengthens our nation’s health, and is a key driver for the U.S. economy, but is also critical for our national security,” Crowley told the Oct. 29 Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the future of biotech. His message received bipartisan support.
On FDA modernization: “Today, the FDA stands at an inflection point. Under new leadership, and amid rapid scientific and technological change, the Agency has an extraordinary opportunity to harness expertise and modernize its policies and operations,” said Crowley. He offered detailed recommendations for action.
On domestic manufacturing: Large drug companies have committed nearly $500 billion in 2025 to bring home manufacturing. “For smaller biotechnology companies to also take part, there must be sufficient contract manufacturing capacity,” said Crowley, outlining ways Congress can support this.
On PPRV: The program “serves as a powerful incentive to stimulate the development of therapies for diseases that are not economically viable to pursue—and does so at no direct cost to taxpayers,” Crowley said, calling for urgent reauthorization.
The bottom line: “By modernizing its processes, strengthening collaboration, and embracing its role as both gatekeeper and catalyst, the FDA can continue to ensure that patients benefit from the full promise of American innovation,” Crowley testified. “Congress must also do its part,” reauthorizing the PPRV and supporting “the full biomanufacturing ecosystem.” Read more on Bio.News. |
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Is the U.S. losing biotech leadership? BIO and government leaders answer. |
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BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley and Sen. Todd Young (R-IND) warn of the threat of the U.S. losing its biotech leadership in a joint Newsweek article published last week.
Why it matters: “The biotech race is the defining technological contest of the 21st century,” Crowley and Sen. Young write. “China's rise puts the United States in a perilous position because our biotech sector isn't just another industry. It's a national strategic asset.”
What to do: “The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology recently outlined additional policy solutions: elevate biotechnology as a national priority with White House-level coordination, integrate it into defense planning and treat biological data as a strategic resource,” they write.
Further action: “We must also build a skilled biotech workforce and partner with allies to strengthen supply chains and fund collaborative R&D. Policymakers also need to cut red tape, unleashing the private sector and the entrepreneurial spirit that have been the bedrocks of our biotech industry,” say Crowley and Sen. Young.
Amplifying the message: Tim Scott, CEO of BIO affiliate Biocom California, writes in STAT News that America risks losing leadership in biotech, as it did in shipbuilding and semiconductors. He notes missteps like “reduced government funding in research, threats of tariffs on pharmaceutical products, drug pricing policies that are pushing investors away, and a loss of talent at agencies that fund and regulate innovative companies.”
The bottom line: “The entire world is a better, safer, healthier and more prosperous place when the United States leads in biotechnology,” according to Crowley and Sen. Young.
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A breast cancer diagnosis at age 32 led to a lifetime of advocacy, explains Maimah Karmo, founder of the Tigerlily Foundation, in a Bio.News guest article for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “I made a promise to God that if I lived, I would devote my life to creating a world where women, especially young women and women of color, would have access to the information, care, and community they deserve,” she writes.
NPF and psoriatic disease community advocate for access and accountability in Washington, D.C. The National Psoriasis Foundation joined nearly 70 members of the psoriatic disease community in Washington, D.C. to meet with their legislators on Oct. 30. They advocated for legislation that improves access to treatments and bring transparency and accountability to our health care system. Specific requests included passing the Safe Step Act to address problems with step therapy, and meaningful pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform to bring transparency and accountability. |
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