Good Day BIO: U.S. risks 'forfeiting world-leading position' as biotech powerhouse

A new report explains the risk of not investing in the U.S. bioeconomy. We also have an exclusive look at a public-private partnership fostering clinical trials in Africa and improving health care infrastructure and lives as a result. (635 words, 3 minutes, 10 seconds)

U.S. risks 'forfeiting world-leading position' as biotech powerhouse

The U.S. is the world’s “biotech powerhouse”—but urgently needs investment and support, says a report released last week by the Schmidt Futures Task Force on Synthetic Biology and the Bioeconomy (with input from BIO’s Sarah Gallo and Erick Lutt).

The context: The U.S. bioeconomy generates 5.1% of the U.S. GDP, with more than half from outside the biomedical sector—with potential to reduce emissions by 450 million tons and support 1.1 million U.S. jobs. 

But: “decentralized leadership and a corresponding lack of a strategic vision, inadequate talent development, insufficient investment in both fundamental research and the activities that turn discovery into public benefits, and international competition put the United States at risk of forfeiting its world-leading position and squandering the entrepreneurial drive and capital market interest that is trying to expand the bioeconomy,” says the task force.

The task force makes 7 policy recommendations:

1. Develop a national bioeconomy strategy under the U.S. Department of Commerce.
2. Establish a “5-year, at least $1.1 billion Bioproduction Science and Engineering Initiative (BSEI) that expands budgets and remits of relevant science and technology funding agencies.”
3. “Invest $1.2 billion in an extensive and flexible bioproduction infrastructure—one that can process multiple feedstocks using multiple organisms to produce multiple products by multiple mechanisms at multiple scales—over two years.”
4. “Build bioproduction science curricula/certification programs that will provide opportunities for a diverse workforce that is trained with high-demand skills and competencies for immediate industry employment.”
5. Provide more resources to regulatory agencies overseeing biotech, including EPA, FDA, and USDA.
6. Explore “financial incentives and measurement tools” to drive and track sector growth.
7. “Provide funding for the modernization of relevant existing databases and creation of data-sharing mechanisms.”

Read the full report.

Changing lives in Africa, one clinical trial at a time

Launched by BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), the African Consortium for Cancer Clinical Trials (AC³T) is fostering clinical trials led by investigators in Africa—and improving cancer care and livelihoods in the process. We take an exclusive look.

By the numbers:Despite shouldering a very high cancer burden, more than 20% of African countries have no access to cancer treatments—and when they do, it’s limited and sporadic. The continent also lacks trained oncologists/clinicians as well as access to clinical trials.

“Unfortunately, people of African descent are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials, meaning that products and regimens approved based on data from people of other ethnicities may be suboptimal for them,” explains BVGH President & CEO Jennifer Dent.

What they’re doing about it: “The African Consortium for Cancer Clinical Trials (AC³T) is addressing these unacceptable disparities in the field of oncology,” with programs like mini-grants and virtual trainings.

What they’re saying: “Without the AC³T mini-grant, it would not have been possible to accomplish our project,” said Dr. Jamilu Faruk Abdullahi of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Nigeria. “It is my expectation that on completing this research, we will be able to identify factors that influence cancer treatment abandonment in ABUTH and its environs, with a view to ameliorating these factors and ultimately improving the quality of life and outcomes for children with cancer.”

The big picture: “This is paving the way for larger biotech leaders to partner with these smaller institutions and build infrastructure for the long term,” explains our reporter Clary Estes in Bio.News.

Read and share the whole thing.

More Health Care News:

Novavax: Initial results from Novavax’ COVID-19-influenza vaccine trial are first to show feasibility of combination vaccine
“The safety and tolerability profile of the combination vaccine was consistent with the stand-alone NVX-CoV2373 and quadrivalent nanoparticle influenza vaccine reference formulations in the trial. The combination vaccine was found to be generally well tolerated.”

President Biden’s Thursday: He will provide updates on Russia and Ukraine at 9:45 AM ET. Then, he’ll head to Portland, OR, where he’ll deliver remarks on infrastructure at 5:10 PM ET before attending DNC fundraisers in Portland and Seattle.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Recess.