Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), issued the following statement after the Trump administration moved forward with its threat to impose foreign price controls on medicines covered under Medicare: “With scientists and researchers at America’s biopharmaceutical companies working around the clock to fight a deadly pandemic, it is simply dumbfounding that the Trump administration would move forward with its threat to import foreign price controls and the inevitable delays to innovation that will follow. This reckless scheme will eliminate hope for vulnerable seniors and other patients waiting for new treatments by drastically reducing investment in cutting-edge scientific research and development. That is why we will use every tool available – including legal action if necessary – to fight this risky foreign price control scheme. America’s patients, families, scientists and researchers deserve nothing less. “BIO has worked hard to advance systemic and bipartisan reforms that address legitimate concerns about the U.S. healthcare insurance and delivery systems, including concerns about the affordability and accessibility of medicines.  And we will continue to do so, regardless of today’s announcement from the Trump administration. We remain guided by an overarching focus on putting patients’ interests first, reducing healthcare disparities, and ensuring continued investment in the next wave of biomedical breakthroughs for COVID-19 and many other life-threatening diseases.” ###

Washington, D.C. (September 9, 2020) – U.S. Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue will join leaders across the bioeconomy—in agriculture, sustainable fuels, and biobased manufacturing— for discussions on the role of biotechnology in protecting our planet’s resources, driving a strong economy and improving people’s lives. Hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the BIO IMPACT Agriculture & Environment Digital Conference will be held virtually September 21-22, 2020. The event builds on the legacy of the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Agriculture—the world’s largest conference on industrial biotechnology—which convened for more than a decade. Secretary Perdue will join Brian Brazeau, Vice-chair of BIO’s Food and Agriculture Section Governing Board and President of Novozymes North America, for a fireside chat on USDA’s Leadership in Driving Innovation in Agriculture on September 22, 10:00 am (ET). USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda was announced earlier this year and aims to cut the environmental footprint of agriculture in half while increasing production by 40 percent. This session will highlight how biotech applications on the farm and in food production are supporting these goals by combatting climate change and driving sustainability. Other notable speakers include: Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, BIO’s President and CEO Barb Glenn, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Greg Jaffe, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Jason Kelly, Ph.D., Gingko Bioworks Christophe Schilling, Genomatica Joshua Hoffman, Zymergen John Melo, Amyris Sylvia Wulf, AquaBounty The full program can be found here. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters working for print, broadcast, or web publications with valid press credentials. For more information on the conference, please visit bio.org/bioimpact. Please contact Connor McKoy (CMcKoy@bio.org) if you…