BIO names John Crowley as new CEO

BIO names John F. Crowley as the new CEO—Bio.News spoke with him about why biotech innovation is personal and what he hopes to achieve in his new mission. Also, BIO has a message for COP28 delegates: biotech is climate tech. (623 words, 3 minutes, 6 seconds)

BIO taps John Crowley as new CEO

As BIO has searched for a new CEO over the past year, the name of one tireless industry leader and patient advocate stood out: John F. Crowley. 

John Crowley’s resume, in a nutshell: He’s currently the founder and executive chairman of Amicus Therapeutics, which develops treatments for rare genetic diseases. He was CEO of Amicus from 2005 to 2022, and his impressive career has included stints at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novazyme Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme Corporation, and Orexigen Therapeutics, as well as service in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

It’s personal: After two of his children were diagnosed with rare Pompe disease and given very little time to live, he made it his mission to find treatments—and he succeeded.

And he knows BIO: Currently vice chair of BIO, he’s worked with the organization, members, and staff for years. He recently testified on BIO’s behalf about the impact of price controls on companies like Amicus and the search for rare disease treatments.

His next mission: “We have to advocate for policies that will advance biotechnology to feed, fuel, and heal the world,” he told Bio.News. “But we also need to remove all the barriers to innovation and access…We need to educate the public about what biotechnology actually is.” 

Why it matters: “There’s nothing in the laws of nature that says we can’t cure any disease or overcome any obstacle—only the limits on what we’re willing to pursue as a society,” said Crowley. “I am going to work to bring the purpose, optimism, and passion to BIO that it deserves because what we do is just too important not to.”

Watch more:

Learn more about John Crowley:

• Read the BIO press release.
• Read the Bio.News profile.
• Read the Wall Street Journal exclusive about his new role.
• Read BioCentury's coverage of the announcement

Why it’s time to enable biotech climate solutions

Biotech is “climate tech”—and governments need to enable it, writes Beth Ellikidis, BIO’s VP of Agriculture and Environment, in RealClear Energy.

A message for COP28: In an op-ed directed at delegates to the ongoing U.N. Climate Change Conference, Ellikidis highlights biotech solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, explaining how regulators can advance these breakthroughs.

Biotech is climate tech—and many solutions exist to help us adapt to and even mitigate climate change:

• Bioengineered crops that can withstand harsh environments, like genetically improved rice to boost yields and resist disease while thriving in poor soil or flooded conditions.
• Animal feed additives supporting digestive efficiency to enable a one-third reduction in methane emissions from cattle.
• Plant-based cultured meats made with much less land and water use, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions than animal meat.
• Biobased materials, including bioplastics and biofuels to cut greenhouse gases and pollution, some made with genetically engineered enzymes that capture and recycle atmospheric carbon.

But government support is needed. The Biden administration calls for action in the Fifth National Climate Assessment, but the U.S. and other governments must reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers to biotech innovations.

BIO’s view: “From providing sustainable alternatives in key industries to fortifying our agricultural systems against the impacts of a changing climate, biotechnology stands as a strategic ally in the fight against climate threats,” Ellikidis writes. “It is up to our leaders to recognize the vital role that these tools of innovation can play in securing our future.” 

Catch up on what’s happening at COP28 and how BIO’s participating.

President Biden’s Tuesday: Visiting Boston for three campaign fundraisers, including one featuring singer-songwriter James Taylor, Boston 25 News reports.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The House Energy & Commerce Committee will mark up 44 pieces of legislation, including many addressing healthcare and a couple specifically targeting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on Drug Shortages: Examining Supply Challenges, Impacts, and Policy Solutions from a Federal Health Program Perspective.