What we've been reading over the holidays

Here are some recent reads on the latest biotech, politics, and policy news as we gear up for 2021. 

Health Care News: 

Bloomberg: First COVID vaccines’ triumph raises hope for cancer fight
“The cancer field might see its first messenger RNA drug approvals in two or three years, according to [BioNTech CEO Ugur] Sahin.” 

The Guardian: Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID vaccine approved by UK regulator
“Because the Oxford vaccine needs only normal refrigeration at 2-8C and is easily transported from UK factories, it will not have to be kept in central hospital and community hubs, making the rollout to GP practices and care homes swift.” 

The New York Times: The coronavirus pandemic is ‘not necessarily the big one,’ senior W.H.O. official says
“If there’s one thing we need to take from this pandemic with all the tragedy and loss is that we need to get our act together. We need to get ready for something that may even be more severe in the future,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Programme. 

Agriculture and Environment News:

Biomass Magazine: New discovery opens novel pathway to produce drop-in biofuels
“Using an unusual, light-dependent enzyme and a newly discovered enzymatic mechanism, researchers from Aarhus University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have enabled the biological synthesis of high-yield industry relevant production of climate neutral drop-in fuels from biowaste.” 

Nature: How blockchain and genetic engineering could make food safer for people with allergies
“RNAi and gene-editing techniques (such as CRISPR–Cas9) can allow complex genetic control that would be challenging to achieve with conventional genetic modification (GM) approaches.” 

The New York Times: How mink, like humans, were slammed by the coronavirus
“Not only are mink the only nonhuman animal known to become severely ill and die from the virus, they are the only animal known to have caught the virus from humans and then passed it back.” 

Want to catch up on Good Day BIO? You don’t need to dig through your inbox over the holidays. Visit www.bio.org/gooddaybio-archive to read and search every issue since January.

P.S. Industry Leaders named the top 10 biotech industry leaders of the year—and it’s a who’s who of BIO leadership.See the full list here.

The new year is (almost) here. We’re planning an exciting lineup of virtual partnering events in the first half of 2021—including BIO Partnering during JPM Week, BIO CEO and Investor Conference in February, and BIO Digital in June.

Through our event portfolio, BIO unites and empowers biotech innovators and their ecosystem to improve lives, but also offers a broad and unbiased venue to seek investment and BD&L opportunities.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Some of your peers who have attended our events told us a few reasons why they show up. 

1. To meet “major global players” and critical new partners.
“Partnering meetings across these events have generated at least 20 fruitful connections. One resulted in an ongoing investment banking engagement. Another 10 introduced me to investors with serious potential that we are continuing to explore—some for our current funding round and some for future funding rounds,” said John G. Edwards, CEO of Drusolv Therapeutics, Inc.  

“The one-on-one meeting booking system is one of the best in the industry,” added Olivier Jarry, Managing Partner of Triple Bottom-Line Consulting.

2. To break through the noise.
“A brief, yet impactful presentation is a key to promote and secure strong partnership and differentiate your organization and offerings in the noisy space,” said Ayla Annac, MBA, CEO and President of InvivoSciences Inc.  

“As the world is changing, and face to face meetings at big pharma headquarters are not so easy to get, these partnering forums are now the minimum requirement to introduce your promising technology to the major global players in our industry,” added Snehal Patel, CEO of Greenwich LifeSciences.

3. To embark on the next chapter of your company’s story.
“It only takes one interested investor in the audience to change a company’s fortunes, so prepare well and grab the opportunity with your company presentation,” said Darren Cunningham, FCA, CEO of Inflection Biosciences, Inc.

Don’t miss out—get the details about BIO’s diverse audience of biotechs, investors, in-licensors and other deal partners. Start planning your year at www.bio.org/events.

President Trump’s Wednesday: Per his official schedule, President Trump continues “to work tirelessly for the American People. His schedule includes many meetings and calls.” 

President-elect Biden’s Wednesday: Yesterday, he talked about his plans to initiate “a much more aggressive effort” to vaccinate Americans. The Biden transition team recently met with the biofuels industry, per Reuters. And ICYMI, The New York Times has the latest on Biden's climate team. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill:The stimulus saga continues. Meanwhile, early voting is underway for the U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia on Tuesday, which will determine the balance of power in Congress, says Voice of America.

RIP Congressman-elect Luke Letlow. He tragically passed away yesterday of complications from COVID-19, the first federal elected official to succumb to the virus. The 41-year-old Republican from Louisiana's Fifth Congressional District had a long career in public service, most recently as chief of staff to retired U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, whose seat Letlow was set to fill next week. Our thoughts are with his wife, two children, and everyone who knew and worked with him on Capitol Hill and in Louisiana.