What BIO's watching in the states

Today, we take a deep dive into what’s been happening in the state legislatures—here’s what BIO’s watching related to healthcare and agriculture. Plus, two bills designed to strengthen U.S. patents were introduced May 1. (790 words, 3 minutes, 57 seconds)

What BIO’s watching in the states on health

As state legislatures wrap up Q1 sessions, Patrick Plues, BIO's SVP for State Government Affairs, explains what health-related legislation BIO is watching.

Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs): 16 bills in 11 states related to PDABs, which are intended to control drug prices within a state. “They oversimplify a highly complex healthcare system,” but ignore pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), Plues said.

PDABs limit access to drugs and have proven ineffective, which is why New Hampshire is considering repealing its PDAB. Legislation in Maryland awaits the governor’s signature, while other state legislation is stalling or has been vetoed.

340B: This program was intended to help patients in underserved communities, but is being abused by hospitals in wealthy neighborhoods that take savings on drugs without passing them on to patients. Some legislation would expand the harmful system, while other states seek to reform through transparency.

Vaccines: 252 bills in 40 states cover vaccines, including legislation targeting vaccine mandates or restricting mRNA vaccines.

Data privacy: Bills that protect consumers are helpful, but need amendments allowing the use of de-identified data and clinical trial data to enable biotech research.

BIO’s view: “Divisiveness in Congress is causing states to step into the void and become even more active on prescription drug pricing, 340B, vaccines, and consumer data privacy and AI,” says Plues.

Read more on Bio.News.

What BIO’s watching in the states on agriculture

As state legislatures wrap up Q1 sessions, Patrick Plues, BIO's SVP for State Government Affairs, explains what ag-related legislation BIO is watching.

Animal vaccination: BIO opposes restrictive bills targeting livestock vaccinated with mRNA vaccines, which don’t exist for animals, and criminalizing animal vaccinations. The only vaccine bill passed (in Utah) says food containing vaccines must be regulated as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): Bills requiring GMO labeling were being considered in Illinois, Maine, Missouri, New York, and Oklahoma. A New York bill would prohibit the sale of GMO salmon. In Oregon, a bill banning the production of genetically engineered aquaculture died.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): While bills incentivizing SAF in Hawaii and Kentucky failed, Arkansas passed a measure; legislation is pending in California, Minnesota, New York, and Washington.

Plant biostimulants: BIO is helping spearhead legislation in several states, including bills enacted in Mississippi, North Dakota, and Utah, and legislation moving forward in Iowa, Oregon, and Vermont.

Foreign ownership: BIO is concerned with bills restricting foreign-owned biotech companies from purchasing land for R&D that could benefit U.S. farmers.

BIO’s view: “This is a particularly busy time in the states, but working with national, regional, and state partners and policymakers, BIO is successfully defending, protecting, and helping to expand markets in the states for agriculture biotechnology and bio-based products,” says Gene Harrington, BIO's Senior Director, State Government Affairs, Agriculture & Environment.

Read more on Bio.News.

What Else to Read This Week

Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC), Andrei Iancu (former Director of the USPTO), Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), and Sen. Thom Tills (R-NC) announcing two patent bills at the Capitol on Thursday. Not shown: Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX). 

Two bills designed to strengthen U.S. patents were introduced on Thursday.The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA Act) would address confusing court decisions by increasing clarity on types of inventions that can be patented. The Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act (PREVAIL Act) would seek to limit abuses by patent challengers. Read more on Bio.News.

Merck plans $1B lab, plant, and warehouse in Delaware; envisions cancer drug production. Merck announced the construction of a $1 billion biologics center of excellence in Wilmington, Delaware, to house a laboratory, manufacturing, and a warehouse. The “cornerstone of Merck’s continued commitment to investing in American innovation” is intended “as the future U.S. home for producing KEYTRUDA for U.S. patients,” Merck said. Also: AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said his company “is committed to investing and growing in the U.S.” and plans new U.S. investment.

“Whether it’s prior authorization, step therapy, copay accumulators, increasing consolidation in the healthcare system, or any other barrier, patients face a wide range of challenges in navigating access to care,” explained Karin Hoelzer, BIO's Senior Director of Patient Advocacy, during a BIO patient advocacy virtual coffee chat. “Data is crucial to understand both the impact of these access barriers on patients and to guide policy solutions,” she added. Read more on Bio.News.

BIO member survey identifies alternatives to animal testing. Safeguarding human health during clinical research is essential, but biotechnology has shown that this does not always have to mean using animals to test drug safety. A new survey of BIO members identifies alternatives that could help reduce animal testing. Read more on Bio.News.

BIO partnering with SynBioBeta for the Global Synthetic Biology Conference in San Jose, today through Thursday. The conference will explore how synbio is transforming industries. It also will highlight how the rapidly developing intersection of synthetic biology and AI is driving biological innovation with cutting-edge computation. Sylvia Wulf, BIO’s Interim Head of Agriculture and Environment, will join a panel entitled “Future of the U.S. Bioeconomy.” tomorrow afternoon. Read more.

Beltway Report

The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on the nominations of James O'Neill for Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and Janette Nesheiwat for Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Surgeon General. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will testify about the USDA budget before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday and the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.