Good Day BIO: BIO joins efforts to aid in humanitarian relief in Ukraine

BIO’s joining efforts to support the people of Ukraine—here’s how you can help. Plus, we discuss the outlook for Alzheimer’s breakthroughs and advice for women founders of patient advocacy organizations. (743 words, 3 minutes, 42 seconds)

BIO joins efforts to aid in humanitarian relief in Ukraine

The biotech industry is coming together to donate a range of critical medical supplies, equipment, and medications to the people of Ukraine—here’s how you can help.  

"The conflict in Ukraine and violence from Russia defies international law, norms and modern sensibilities,”says BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath. “Unfortunately, those suffering the most are individuals and families across Ukraine as they endure tremendous hardship and threats from immediate military attack, as well as interruptions to their ongoing medical treatments.” 

Ukraine needs medications, medical supplies, and equipment—here’s the complete list. The effort is being led by the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service, coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. 

“We are inspired by Ukrainians’ strength and resilience in this difficult hour and are committed to supporting them and standing with the international community against this unwarranted and life-threatening aggression,”says Dr. Michelle.

Click here to learn more about what’s needed and how you can donate.

The ‘inflection point’ on Alzheimer’s is coming…

But we can’t stand in the way of innovation, agreed speakers yesterday during The Hill’s event, Breaking New Ground: Innovations in Alzheimer's Research, sponsored by Eli Lilly.

3 things to do about Alzheimer’s right now, according to Anne White, SVP and President of Lilly Neuroscience:

1. Recognize we’re on the brink of meaningful change in how we diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s.
2. Identify changes needed to take full advantage of scientific advances happening now.
3. Recognize the importance of collaboration across all stakeholders.

 An “inflection point” on Alzheimer’s is coming, said Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY). “Approval of Aduhelm and CMS responding with a proposal for coverage tell us that we’re getting to that advanced point where there’s more hope in the air.”

But CMS’s proposal could mean “coverage may be limited to a very few,” creating “a precedent” that could restrict future innovations, continued Rep. Tonko, who with Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) sent a letter to HHS expressing concern about the proposed coverage determination.

“The Aduhelm story is not over yet,” said Brent Vaughan, CEO of Cognito Therapeutics, a biotech working on neurodegenerative disease. “This is actually an example of when the FDA is trying to help promote innovation in a space.”

Meanwhile, we need a “comprehensive strategy,” said Rep. Tonko. With 95% of people with dementia suffering from one or more other chronic conditions, we need to coordinate “care in a more holistic and collaborative model,” which can reduce hospitalizations, delay nursing-home placement, and ensure quality of life and affordability for patients.

And we need more diverse trials: “We don’t have a global perspective on the disease,” said former NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni. We cannot understand “the fundamental mechanisms of the disease,” unless we have studies with different populations in different parts of the world.

President Biden’s Thursday: He will hold a Cabinet meeting at 2 PM ET. This evening, he’ll sign into law H.R. 4445, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021. Meanwhile, “White House shifts to a more targeted COVID strategy,” reports STAT News.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) reveals he has “long COVID” and is cosponsoring a bill calling for “expanding and accelerating research into the phenomenon, improving education about it and better connecting patients with services,” reports The New York Times. Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) “proposes dramatically scaled down version of Build Back Better,” per The Hill.