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Witnesses told a Senate Judiciary hearing yesterday that predictable patent protection keeps U.S. an innovation leader—plus, a new study shows how updated COVID vaccines protect against thrombosis. (549 words, 2 minutes, 44 seconds) |
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Senate hearing: predictable patent protection keeps U.S. an innovation leader |
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We need a clear, predictable patent system, agreed witnesses and lawmakers during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property hearing yesterday.
Why it matters: Supreme Court decisions have reduced clarity and undermined confidence in whether innovations can survive patent challenges. Strong patent protections enable innovation by ensuring returns on time and money invested.
The focus of the hearing: The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), bipartisan legislation introduced by Ranking Member Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Subcommittee Chair Chris Coons (D-DE).
How it works: PERA would clarify that the patent system is open to all technologies and inventions, with only a few exceptions such as ideas based on a mental process that can be done in the human mind or a gene already existing in the human body.
“The law of patent eligibility in this country is now a mess. No one involved in the field of patent law, including the Federal Circuit judges … can reasonably predict which inventions will be found to be patent eligible,” testified Phillip Johnson of the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform.
The impact on U.S. competitiveness: “China and European countries are now the ones forging ahead and securing reliable and effective patents in innovation that the U.S. no longer reliably or effectively protects,” testified Prof. Adam Mosoff of the Antonin Scalia School of Law.
BIO’s view: “Bringing more predictability to this unstable area of patent law is important to ensure that our patent system preserves and maintains the incentives for innovation that have made the United States the global leader in medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology,” according to BIO VP for Intellectual Property, Hans Sauer. |
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CDC: Updated COVID vaccines protect against thrombosis |
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Updated COVID-19 vaccines improve protection against thrombosis, a dangerous side effect of the coronavirus that can lead to other life-threatening conditions, says a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study.
The risk: COVID-19 can trigger a hyperactive immune response, causing inflammation that can damage blood vessels and lead to thrombosis, the formation of blood clots.
Why it matters: Acute thrombosis is the most common cause of death in developed countries. It can lead to ischemic stroke, venous thromboembolism, and cardiovascular disease, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and myocardial infarction. It also increases risks for those with kidney disease.
Updated COVID vaccines outperformed original vaccines against thrombosis, according to the Jan. 11 CDC study. Compared to the original monovalent vaccine, updated bivalent vaccines showed 47% effectiveness in preventing clotting events in patients ≥65 years and 51% effectiveness in patients ≥18 years with end-stage kidney disease on dialysis.
Updated vaccines also better protect against COVID, as we’ve reported.
The bottom line: Adults, particularly those with a greater risk of becoming ill from a COVID-19 infection, should stay up to date on their vaccines.
An M.D. explains more in Bio.News. |
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President Biden’s Wednesday: Giving the keynote at the United Auto Workers’ political convention in Washington, D.C, where he may get the UAW endorsement, per AP.
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Small businesses developing mitigation for emerging substance abuse threats would receive a 10% tax credit under the Innovate to Save Lives Act (H.R. 6979), introduced in the House last week by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), along with Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), David Trone (D-MD), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ). |
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