Good Day BIO: Mexico's new decree on biotech corn

Happy Valentine’s Day. We have a new development on Mexico’s corn ban, insights on why we need to update vaccine policy, and a lot more news. (667 words, 3 minutes, 20 seconds)

Mexico issues new decree on biotech corn – but it’s not enough

Mexico yesterday announced a modified decree regarding U.S. imports of biotech corn for animal feed, but the change does not appear to stop the ban on corn for human consumption.

What it does: The new decree "makes clear that Mexico intends to ban all GM corn, but recognizes that it must continue to allow imports for feed and industrial uses until the country can somehow replace the supplies for which it now depends on the U.S.," explains Agri-Pulse. This follows a letter from the U.S. Agricultural Trade Negotiator Doug McKalip asking Mexico to “explain the science” behind the ban.

Why it matters: Of the roughly 17 million tons of U.S. corn Mexico imports annually, around 20% is for human consumption, according to Bio.News.

Biotech corn for animal feed would eventually be replaced—through “gradual substitution,” but without a strict timeline. “Working groups will be set up with the domestic and international private sector to achieve an orderly transition” and include “health authorities from other countries,” per Mexico’s Economy Department.

The U.S. wanted more. U.S. officials had not commented on this development as of this writing, but administration officials, lawmakers, and BIO have repeatedly called any plan to ban biotech corn a violation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

What’s next: After sending his last letter, McKalip said the U.S. would assess Mexico’s response. “And then, based upon where we are in that process, figure out next steps to try to resolve the situation.”

Why vaccine policy must keep up with the science

Vaccine policy needs to be updated to ensure widespread use of cutting-edge preventive treatments that can protect Americans in the future, says Phyllis Arthur, BIO’s VP for Infectious Diseases and Emerging Science, writing in Health Affairs.

New treatments under development—including monoclonal antibodies to protect children from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—“move beyond the classic vaccine paradigm in their design or function,” says the Health Affairs article, which Arthur co-authored with public health experts Dr. Angela Shen and Dr. Jason Schwartz.

Why it matters: The first RSV preventatives, including several monoclonal antibody candidates, could receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as early as this year.

But we need a policy update: All children, and all adults with health insurance, can receive essential vaccines for free, and registries track vaccination data. Infants and older adults, who are particularly vulnerable to RSV, could benefit from these policies, but it’s not clear how the monoclonal antibodies will be handled.

The best solution: “Monoclonal antibodies that are intended to prevent disease and death and work like vaccines should be aligned across programs and recognized within systems to ensure insurance coverage and access that enables broad-based and equitable uptake across intended populations,” Arthur and colleagues argue.

The next steps: Further policy updates are needed to shift from a COVID-19 “emergency response posture” to routine vaccination and to make room for new vaccines against threats such as antimicrobial resistance and bioterrorism, so we can “realize the potential of innovations in the pipeline.”

More Health News: 

IFPMA: Pharma recommends five priorities for future pandemic preparedness and response
“A new architecture needs to maintain what has proven to be effective in addressing this pandemic: a thriving innovation environment made possible thanks to unimpeded and swift access to emerging pathogens and an R&D ecosystem supported by a tried and tested intellectual property framework. However, the inequities in access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics despite major global efforts must be overcome.” 

Reuters: U.S. government to buy 1.5M more Novavax COVID vaccine doses
“The U.S. government has agreed to buy 1.5 million more doses of Novavax Inc (NVAX.O) COVID-19 vaccine, the company said on Monday, adding that the modified agreement includes funds for development of an updated vaccine by fall this year.” 

U.S. News: Paxlovid remains potent against Omicron COVID cases
“The COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid continues to work against Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, new research shows.”

President Biden’s Tuesday: Addressing the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate will vote on judicial nominations today. While the House is not in session, Republicans are preparing hearings that will air a range of views on the use and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, Axios reports.