BIO.News Newsletter

Here’s an important reminder as we head into Thursday: While we know older adults and people with underlying illnesses face the highest risk of complications and death from COVID-19, new numbers show younger adults are getting seriously ill, too. So, no matter your age or how you feel today, it’s important to keep up the social distancing, for others and for yourself. We’re all in this together.  Today, we’re looking at more coronavirus news, including the role of air quality and low-carbon…

In these unprecedented times, America’s biopharmaceutical companies are coming together to achieve one shared goal: the eradication of COVID-19. BIO and PhRMA have teamed up to declare a shared set of principles to guide our industry during this crisis as we work together toward vaccines and cures, including: Rapidly screen our vast global libraries of medicines, dedicate top scientists, and use our investments in new technologies to identify potential treatments and speed up the development…

After a Monday that felt like it was three weeks long, we’ve got some good news: the first COVID-19 vaccine trial started yesterday, and consumers like gene-edited foods once they have information about them. Here are 825 words, about 4 minutes. P.S. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. FYI: Beer and whiskey, Irish or not, taste almost as good at home as they do in a crowded bar—and they’re cheaper.

As we start what could be a critically important week in the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a special request: tell us what you’re doing to respond. We want to know what you’re doing about business continuity, especially lab and manufacturing activities, travel and events, worker safety, teleworking, supply chains, the works. We'll compile the plans (with your private details scrubbed) and share them in our coronavirus resource center.   Send your plans and any questions to covidresponse@bio.org. …

It’s Friday the 13th. The House continues to work with the White House on a coronavirus package, while the Senate has canceled next week’s scheduled recess. In the meantime, we’re looking at SEC regulatory changes that will help small public biotech companies, as well as a Senate Ag hearing yesterday with some strong messages about the need for a transparent, science-based regulatory process, in 760 words, about 3 minutes, 45 seconds.

A quick recap of Wednesday: WHO declared the coronavirus a pandemic, Trump imposed new travel restrictions on Europe, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson tested positive, and you really shouldn’t look at your investment accounts right now. In better news, we have details on another biotech innovation that might help, as well as some insight on what the White House is thinking about drug pricing, in about 820 words, or 4 minutes.

We’re staying on top of all the coronavirus news, including a Texas House of Representatives hearing yesterday, where we testified on government and business preparedness and response. We’re also reading a food innovation thought leader’s new blog on why our brains make certain food choices—and how we can use that knowledge to combat myths about food biotech. Here are around 870 words, or 4 minutes, 20 seconds.

We launched a Coronavirus Business Resource Center to help companies navigate the coronavirus—keep reading for details. We also have news on whether or not Congress will self-quarantine, as well as a podcast on sustainable food innovations driven by biotech to help you take your mind off the coronavirus, in 765 words, 3 minutes, 50 seconds.

It’s Podcast Monday. I AM BIO Episode 4, Trying Our Patients, is now available—and if you care about the impact of drug pricing legislation on new cures, you won’t want to miss it. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. (Apple, Spotify, and Google)While the spread of the coronavirus and the administration’s “shift in tone” will dominate the news this week, we also want to take a look at two other important issues for the biotech industry: the truth about…

It was another busy week in the fight to contain the coronavirus—but policymakers and the biopharma industry are coming together to find solutions. Here’s the latest news from Washington and BIO members, in about 700 words, or 3 and a half minutes.