Good Day BIO: More bipartisan opposition to TRIPS expansion

The New Democrats coalition express concern about the proposed expansion of the TRIPS waiver—another sign of bipartisan opposition. Plus, BIO member Geno will testify on the 2023 Farm Bill before the Senate Ag Committee today; BIO submitted written testimony. (748 words, 3 minutes, 44 seconds)

New Dems express serious concerns about TRIPS expansion

The New Democrats (the coalition, not newly elected!) raised serious concerns with U.S. Trade Rep. Ambassador Katherine Tai about the proposed expanded waiver on IP for COVID technology—here’s what they said and why it matters.

The context: The WTO agreed to waive IP protections in the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement for COVID-19 vaccines, a decision supported by the Biden administration. The WTO is now considering expanding the waiver to include COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics.

Wait—who are the New Democrats?The New Democrat Coalition—the largest caucus in the U.S. House—is made up of 99 Democrats “committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies.”

What they said: While they share the goal of ensuring access to COVID technologies worldwide, “an extension of the TRIPS waiver for COVID-related therapeutics and diagnostics will have unintended adverse consequences, such as hampering American manufacturing and shifting jobs to foreign countries.”

BIO has previously warned—that the waiver would disincentivize R&D for the next pandemic and undermine President Biden’s recent biotech initiative.

Why it matters: “Coming on the heels of the bipartisan Senate letter on the same subject, it is clear that opposition to the expansion of the TRIPS waiver to therapeutics and diagnostics is bipartisan,” says David Lachmann, BIO’s Senior Director of Federal Government Relations.

The next steps: The New Dems ask USTR to answer seven questions about the waiver, highlighting that companies are already “using existing systems to share IP through bilateral licensing,”—which you can read more about here.  


More Health Care News: 

CNN: Moderna says updated booster generated ‘significantly higher’ antibodies against subvariants
“Moderna said on Monday its updated COVID-19 booster generated ‘significantly higher’ neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants than its earlier shot.”

The Farm Bill could be better for biotech – here's how

The 2023 U.S. Farm Bill can help drive biomanufacturing by improving federal programs, say BIO and member company Geno, who will testify before the Senate Agriculture Committee today.

The hearing: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee will hold a hearing today at 10 AM ET on rural development and energy programs in the Farm Bill. Dr. Christophe Schilling, CEO and founder of Geno and a member of BIO’s Ag and Environment Governing Board, will testify in person; BIO submitted written testimony.

Geno’s bio-butanediol (BDO) is a plant sugar-based alternative to a chemical traditionally made with fossil fuels and used in a range of plastics, fibers, and solvents for many sectors—and it will soon be manufactured on an industrial scale in Iowa.

Why it matters: “Supporting U.S.-based biomanufacturing alleviates supply chain disruptions while providing climate solutions,” says Dr. Schilling’s prepared testimony.

Geno and BIO make recommendations for the Farm Bill including…

• USDA BioPreferred Program should do more to ensure federal procurement and consumer appreciation of certified biobased products and raw materials. We also need new Commerce Dept. NAICS codes for renewables and biobased products, to measure the growing bioeconomy.
• USDA 9003 loan guarantee program, which can fund biorefineries and biomanufacturing infrastructure, should cover all kinds of bio feedstock, have a higher funding cap, and be more streamlined “so that it moves at the pace of business,” explains Dr. Schilling.
• Carbon modeling must be improved to “measure and verify reductions in emissions and carbon sequestrations at the local farm level,” says BIO.

BIO’s take: “Developing and employing domestic feedstocks will help reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign energy and create an energy sector that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enhances human health through improved air quality,” says BIO’s written testimony. “Federal programs supporting the biobased economy, like the Farm Bill energy title, can foster research, development, demonstration-scale activities, and deployment of renewable, low-carbon energy technologies and send positive signals to the investment community.”

More Agriculture and Environment News:

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley: Grassley, Ernst urge USTR to intervene in Mexico’s ban on American corn
“After hearing directly from Iowa farmers, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), both members of the Agriculture Committee, are urging U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai to intervene in Mexico’s plan to end genetically modified corn imports. The country’s proposed ban would effectively phase out the import of 90 percent of U.S. corn by January 2024. Currently, Iowa corn growers export 16 million tons to Mexico each year.”

President Biden’s Tuesday: Meeting leaders of Italy, the European Union, and Indonesia during the G20 summit in Bali, where he is trying to unite world leaders in opposition to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, CNN reports.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The above-mentioned Senate Ag Farm Bill hearing.