$1.4 billion for COVID technology

The federal government awarded $1.4 billion in grants to accelerate new COVID-19 technologies as new variants are causing concern—plus, as heat records become the “new normal,” what’s the role for biotech? (594 words, 2 minutes, 58 seconds)

HHS awards $1.4B for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments

The U.S. government yesterday announced more than $1.4 billion in grants to develop new vaccines and other technology to counter COVID-19.

The awards are part of the government’s $5 billion Project NextGen, which replaced Operation Warp Speed. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awards include:

• $326 million to Regeneron to support the development of a next-generation monoclonal antibody (mAb) for COVID-19 prevention. Previous mAbs lost effectiveness quickly, and there is currently no replacement.
• $1 billion to four clinical trial partners of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to support vaccine phase IIb clinical trial studies. This will help build BARDA’s Clinical Studies Network, “providing a network of at-the-ready trials with the flexibility to pivot to the most promising new vaccines.”
• $10 million to Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JLABS) for a competition through Blue Knight, a BARDA-JLABS partnership to accelerate innovation.
• $100 million to Global Health Investment Corp. (GHIC), the non-profit managing the BARDA Ventures investment portfolio to support promising innovation.

What they’re saying: “Project NextGen is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to keeping people safe from COVID-19 variants,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “These awards are a catalyst for the program—kickstarting efforts to more quickly develop vaccines and continue to ensure availability of effective treatments.”

The context: New COVID variants are spreading across the U.S. and worldwide, causing an uptick in hospitalizations. While updated boosters coming this fall are expected to be effective against new strains, public health officials remain concerned about possible mutations, highlighting the need for continued innovation.  

More Health News: 

Bloomberg: Drug benefit firms devise new fees that go to them, not clients
“Documents and industry insiders suggest that PBMs’ pledges to pass the rebates they get from drugmakers back to their clients are a sleight of hand. In recent years, PBMs have changed what they call some of the money they take from pharma. Instead of rebates, these payments now go by such names as ‘administration fees,’ ‘data fees’ or ‘inflation protection.’”

July heat records part of ‘new normal,’ UN warns

July was the hottest month on record and has been followed by a blistering August, intensifying the need for biotech climate solutions.

What’s it like outside? July, typically the hottest month of the year, broke records kept as far back as 1850 by around 0.25C, Nature reported. The global average was 1.54C over preindustrial temperatures, exceeding the 1.5C increase targeted for 2100 by the Paris Agreement.

More of the same: August’s blistering heat, bringing wildfires and stronger hurricanes, indicates a “new normal,” said the UN World Meteorological Organization. Temperatures exceeding 50C (122F) broke records in Turkey and scorched Iraq, with 2023 on track to be the hottest global year ever.

Blame emissions: While the El Niño weather pattern and a volcanic eruption in Tonga helped raise temperatures this year, scientists agree the main driver is human-induced climate change.

Biotech can help alleviate climate change—with solutions like sustainable aviation fuel and reducing carbon emissions in manufacturing, just two examples among many.

Gene editing in agriculture can mitigate the impact of heat, producing drought-resistant wheat, rice, and even livestock. And agriculture can help, with regenerative farming and carbon capture technology.

A role for the government: USDA promotes biotech for climate through its own programs and initiatives like the Agriculture Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate. The Inflation Reduction Act included support for biotech climate solutions—and BIO wants that support strengthened, including through the Farm Bill.

President Biden’s Wednesday: Vacation in Nevada with no public events scheduled.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The House and Senate are in recess through Labor Day.