BIO.News Newsletter

Happy Earth Day—here’s what to expect from President Biden’s climate summit and more on the role for biotech in cleaning up the planet. We also dive deeper into the TRIPS debate with insights from Dr. Michelle in The Economist. (800 words, 4 minutes)

Bipartisan U.S. Senators reintroduced the Growing Climate Solutions Act yesterday—something BIO’s long supported. We have details, plus a look at what’s keeping us from declaring victory in the pandemic. (598 words, 2 minutes, 59 seconds)

Yesterday, BIO’s Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath sent a letter to USTR explaining why the WTO’s proposed TRIPS waiver would have global health and economic consequences—we have the details. And continuing our special Earth Day coverage, we look at how biotech is helping to clean up transportation. (763 words, 3 minutes, 48 seconds)

Starting a new week with good news: half of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. With Earth Day on Thursday, we have a week of special content looking at how biotech can address climate change. We also preview an op-ed from a BIO member explaining exactly why clinical trial diversity is so important. (849 words, 4 minutes, 15 seconds)

We end the week with a closer look at Biden’s discretionary spending request for health care and pandemic preparedness, and a birthday and new partnership for Twist Bioscience. (762 words, 3 minutes, 48 seconds) P.S. On Monday, April 19, the National Council on Aging will hold a free webinar on vaccine access for older adults featuring Phyllis Arthur, BIO’s VP of Infectious Diseases and Emerging Science. Register Here!

Today, a closer look at what’s in the infrastructure plan for agriculture, and some thoughts on pandemic preparedness. (818 words, 4 minutes, 5 seconds)

We look at a new discovery that could help us understand how to ensure crops are resilient in the face of rising temperatures, and the hate crimes bill moving through Congress and what it means for biotech. (833 words, 4 minutes, 9 seconds) NOTE: The CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) today at 1:30 PM to review six cases of rare blood clots among patients who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Read the joint statement. 

Today, we tell you more about the science behind mRNA vaccines and Reese Witherspoon’s favorite synbio skincare. Read to the end for what to watch in D.C. this week. (737 words, 3 minutes, 41 seconds)Breaking News: The FDA and CDC call for a pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine, The New York Times reports. We will be monitoring the FDA's press conference at 10 AM ET on YouTube.)

Congress is heading back to work—and we’ve relaunched the I AM BIO Podcast with an important episode featuring real people explaining what’s behind vaccine hesitancy. We also look at Biden administration actions last week to promote the development of SAF—including a couple things recommended by BIO. (775 words, 3 minutes, 52 seconds)

A clean fuel standard is close to becoming law in Washington State. We also look at proposed changes that would reaffirm our understanding of Bayh-Dole and support continued innovation. (775 words, 3 minutes, 52 seconds)