COVID vaccines, four years on

Saturday was the anniversary of a milestone in the COVID-19 timeline—and a reminder of how the vaccines are a win for health and science. Plus, BIO’s calling for legislation that would boost domestic biomanufacturing. (605 words, 3 minutes, 1 second)

COVID-19 vaccines, four years on

Saturday was the anniversary of a major milestone in biotech’s efforts to defeat COVID-19.

What happened: On March 16, 2020, the first human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine began, with 45 volunteers receiving Moderna’s mRNA vaccine. Just one week before, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

What happened next: Within nine months of the first trial, both Moderna’s and Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccines were authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was authorized shortly after, while the Novavax vaccine was authorized in October 2022, providing another option.

Why it matters: The success of COVID-19 vaccines, achieved in record time without sacrificing efficacy or safety, was an unprecedented feat for public health and science. By the end of 2022, studies showed the vaccines saved 3.2 million lives, prevented 18.5 million hospitalizations, and meant healthcare costs were $1.15 trillion lower.

A key lesson learned: Addressing COVID-19 involved a “partnership where the expertise and experience of industry—for manufacturing, clinical trial development, knowing how to manufacture products well—was really coupled well with the government’s leadership and facilitating that process,” Phyllis Arthur, BIO’s SVP for Infectious Disease and Emerging Science Policy, told Congress in June.

Looking ahead: “This is the kind of partnership that we need in the interpandemic period so that we’re actually ready to go in less time than one year,” Arthur said.

BIO calls for legislation to support production of renewable materials

BIO is working with the National Corn Growers Association on tax incentives to produce renewable biomaterials—we have the scoop.

“The goal of this legislation would be to jumpstart biomanufacturing in the U.S.,” by supporting production or investment in bio-based raw materials, said John Torres, BIO’s Director of Federal Government Relations for Agriculture & Environment.

Why it matters: Biomanufacturing can benefit the climate and the economy, but to be commercially viable, we need affordable biomaterials that can be produced at scale.

How the legislation would work: Producers using biomass or captured carbon to make renewable materials, and investors who support them, would be granted tax credits. The credits would only go to biomaterials for manufacturing, and materials would need to be produced in the United States.

What’s happening now: BIO’s Torres co-presented concepts BIO would like to see included in biomaterials legislation during a March 14 panel at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference.

BIO’s view: “We know that biomanufacturing can produce valuable economic and environmental benefits, and we want to make sure that the U.S. does not fall behind in developing and applying biomanufacturing technologies,” said Torres. “We look forward to working with Congress to create, and pass, this legislation.” 

Read more in Bio.News.

President Biden’s Monday: Hosting a Women’s History Month reception at the White House.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: A busy week ahead. On Wednesday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra is scheduled to testify at two House hearings: The Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee review of the 2025 HHS budget plan, and an unnamed hearing of the Ways and Means Committee. On Thursday, the House Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the 2025 USDA budget featuring Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Also Thursday, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health has scheduled a hearing, “Evaluating Approaches to Diagnostic Test Regulation and the Impact of the FDA’s Proposed Rule,” while the House Oversight Select Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has a hearing on “Assessing America’s Vaccine Safety Systems, Part 2.” Meanwhile, another deadline for spending legislation looms on Saturday, per The Washington Post.