We're not ready.

Collaboration is key—whether we’re growing biotech jobs and startups, or addressing infectious diseases with pandemic potential. Are we ready? Here’s what we learned on Day 1 of the BIO International Convention, and what’s ahead today. Plus, BIO elects a new board chair and executive committee members.  (768 words, 3 minutes, 50 seconds)

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What we’re watching on Tuesday: As you read this, we’re hearing from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Katie Couric during the opening keynote—recap tomorrow. A few of the (many) panels to watch will cover how to get ahead of disease, vaccine manufacturing in Africa, IP property law in the 118th Congress, and how to spur innovation with high-level government officials from around the world. Plus, don’t miss the fireside chats—with executives from Biogen, Sanofi, and Flagship Pioneering.

1,000 jobs by 2025

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu opened the BIO International Convention with the launch of the Boston Life Sciences Workforce Initiative—here’s what she said about our industry.

The news: The Boston Life Sciences Workforce Initiative aims to connect 1,000 Boston-area residents with life sciences careers by 2025.

The first step: The initial grant application round will provide $4 million for “industry-aligned training and education programs,” as well as programs like internships, hiring commitments, and initiatives for residents without four-year degrees.

What they’re saying: “The regional life sciences industry will need thousands of new workers,” she said. Boston is “the best place in the world to start and grow a life sciences company,” and this initiative will help keep it that way.

We're not ready

On Day 1 of the BIO International Convention, pandemic preparedness—or the lack thereof—came up across panels. 

The situation: We’re “dangerously vulnerable to a biological event—whether it was a biological attack, or an accidental release from sort of laboratory or other facilities, or from a naturally occurring disease like COVID-19, like MPOX,” said Asha George, Executive Director, Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, in an exclusive interview.

Collaboration is key: “We are not going to be prepared in Europe if we don’t look at the world around us,” said Pierre Delsaux, Director General of the Health Emergency and Preparedness Response Authority (HERA) at the European Commission.

“We really do need a public-private partnership in order for BARDA to be successful,” added Dawn O’Connell, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

Two things we can do: Reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) and shore up supply chains to ensure we don’t face the product bottlenecking that we saw during COVID, experts agreed.

The same goes for antimicrobial resistance: “Every other drug we’ve ever invented works forever. The aspirin that was invented 100 years ago still works,” said Kevin Outterson, Executive Director of CARB-X. “For antibiotics, as soon as you start using them, the bacteria respond.”

U.S. and APAC countries grow biotech through cooperation

Growth of biotech in the Asian-Pacific (APAC) region requires domestic and international efforts by the U.S. and APAC countries, said panelists at the APAC Summit at the BIO International Convention yesterday. 

Here’s what we know: U.S. support for startups—including federal, state, and private efforts—has created a robust ecosystem. Australia has built a booming clinical trial industry, and China anticipates 30% growth in the biotech sector in 5 years.

What they’re saying: “In the last two years, the Japanese government decided to set up supplements of about $10 billion for the biotech industry,” said Yoshiaki Tsukamoto, Executive Director of the Japan Bioindustry Association. “We all know that we’ve experienced a revolution in medicine in the last few years,” said Michelle Ouellette of the U.S. Department of Commerce, saying the pandemic reinforced the need to support biotech and strengthen supply chains.  

Innovation requires cross-border cooperation—for the good of economic development, and for the benefits that new medicines bring to humanity, said Jiao Dian, Economy and Commerce Counsellor for the Chinese Embassy to the United States.

Watch our interview and read more on Bio.News: 

More News: 

BIO: BIO elects Dr. Ted W. Love as new Board Chair
“Incoming Chair Dr. Ted Love is a distinguished industry leader with more than two decades of management experience, along with nearly a decade of prior experience as a practicing physician. Dr. Love has spent much of his career focused on addressing the ongoing healthcare disparities facing the sickle cell disease community, and leading the development of therapies for this underserved patient population.” 

U.S. House Financial Services Committee: House passes additional slate of bipartisan financial services capital formation legislation
“This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed seven pieces of bipartisan financial services legislation to facilitate capital formation by strengthening public markets, helping small businesses and entrepreneurs, and creating opportunities for all investors. This builds on the four pieces of bipartisan capital formation legislation passed last week” (which Bio.News covered here). 

President Biden’s Tuesday: Holding a Cabinet meeting this afternoon.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: ICYMI, the House passed legislation that will help biotech startups and investors—read more.