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What a week! We catch up on all the news about Mexico, Merck, and Leqembi—plus, give you a few inspiring takeaways from the BIO International Convention. Enjoy the weekend. (623 words, 3 minutes, 6 seconds) |
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Catch up on Good Day BIO Live |
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Thanks to our sponsor, GSK, for making Good Day BIO Live possible! Here's how you can catch up on everything you missed:
- Follow Bio.News for panel recaps, exclusive Q&As, and much more.
- Join the conversation on Twitter with @IAmBiotech and the hashtag #BIO2023. Like and share our exclusive video content and repost-worthy quotes, and tell us what you enjoyed at the convention!
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What have we learned about vaccinating adults? |
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“During the COVID pandemic, we tried to immunize millions of adults all at one time with very little infrastructure,” said Phyllis Arthur, BIO’s SVP of Infectious Disease & Emerging Science Policy, at the closing day of the BIO International Convention. What did we learn from it? The big question: “How can we take that learning—both the scientific learning we’ve done in terms of developing really efficacious vaccines, but more importantly, what we learned about vaccinating adults and talking to adults about the importance of getting vaccinated—and turn that into more vaccines, more access, and ultimately more protection and better health for adults around the world?” asked Arthur. What we need: a fundamental reworking of the adult routine vaccine schedule, agreed panelists—including a “mind shift” about the importance of adult vaccination, said Judy Stewart, SVP and Head of U.S. Vaccines at GSK. “Businesses, employers, finance ministers, not just the health care world…should be interested in life course immunization,” said Michael Hodin, Ph.D., CEO of the Global Coalition on Aging and Managing Partner at High Lantern Group. “Because it is about not only healthy aging but the economic and productivity values that will come with that.”
Another big question: “Who are the trusted messengers in the community? Who is there to educate, build awareness, and build vaccine confidence among adults?” asked Art Hirt, SVP of the Vaccines Business Unit at Merck.
The bottom line: “Routine adult vaccination schedules are a priority. And to reach that goal, we need more sites of care, no out-of-pocket costs for vaccines, and the help of trusted messengers,” says Bio.News—read more. |
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The headlines we missed this week… |
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While we were convention-ing, here are three things that happened outside of Boston. 1. Merck sues over price controls. The BIO member company
filed a lawsuit claiming the drug price controls in the Inflation Reduction Act are unconstitutional. “Americans tend to support pharmaceutical ‘price negotiations,’ but oppose ‘price controls.’ Knowing this, Congress set up a ruse,”
writes Daniel E. Troy, former chief counsel for the FDA and former general counsel for GSK. He explains why the price controls violate free speech.
2. The U.S. requested USMCA dispute consultations with Mexico—a move BIO applauded. “Unfortunately, technical consultations have not resolved the issue. Mexico’s non-science-based rejection of applications for biotech traits and its ban on imports of biotech corn for human consumption violate the terms of the USMCA and cannot stand,” said Nancy Travis, BIO’s VP for International Affairs.
3. Will Leqembi move closer to traditional approval? A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee
meets TODAY to consider Biogen and Eisai’s
application for traditional approval of the groundbreaking Alzheimer’s treatment. According to
reports, the advisory committee seems likely to approve the application.
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A few more things from BIO International Convention… |
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Including reminders about how our industry is offering hope to patients worldwide. “The flagship of our entire economy”—that’s what Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) called the biotech industry in Massachusetts, speaking in an exclusive interview on the show floor Thursday. “I can’t think of any industry that’s more dependent on public-private partnership than life sciences.”
“The last five years have signaled a new era in science,”said Emma Walmsley, CEO of GSK—the sponsor of Good Day BIO Live. “At GSK, we focus our innovation on preventing disease at scale and for impact, because prevention is the best outcome for patients, and for all of us.” |
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Granting wishes, giving hope: Singer/songwriter Andrew Marshall, a Make-A-Wish alum who survived an acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis at 16, serenaded attendees and explained how biotech is providing hope to patients. Shoutout to John Crowley, BIO and Make-A-Wish Board member and Executive Chairman of Amicus Therapeutics, who explained why the organization is close to his heart. |
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Finally, thank you, Paul Hastings! BIO’s chair since 2021, Paul Hastings passed the gavel to Dr. Ted Love—and shared his thoughts on what’s been accomplished during his time in the seat. Watch: |
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President Biden’s Friday: Heading to North Carolina with the First Lady to discuss workforce training at Nash Community College. White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha is stepping down.
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Enjoy the weekend. |
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