Good Day BIO: USTR ag negotiator confirmed and other news you missed

Happy New Year! As the 118th Congress begins, catch up on the news you missed during the break, from the approval of key ag trade officials to the advancement of new biotech breakthroughs. (611 words, 3 minutes, 3 seconds)

McKalip confirmed for USTR ag negotiator

The Senate confirmed Doug McKalip as the U.S. Trade Representative’s chief agricultural negotiator just before Christmas—here’s what you need to know.

The news: McKalip was confirmed Dec. 22, a day after Alexis Taylor was confirmed as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) undersecretary for trade. The complementary confirmations had been held up due to concerns from individual Senators, according to reports.

Why it matters: The newly filled roles are essential to promoting global agricultural trade. BIO had been calling for their swift confirmation, including in a recent letter co-signed with a coalition of groups organized by Farmers for Free Trade.

Mexico’s planned ban of biotech corn from the United States by 2024 is probably the most pressing issue for the new agricultural trade team. The proposed ban could halve U.S. corn exports to Mexico, cause severe economic pain for both countries, and violate the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement.

Watch this issue. USDA and USTR were reviewing proposed amendments to Mexico’s ban, and McKalip and Taylor could play key roles as negotiations continue this month.

What we're saying: “BIO congratulates Ambassador Doug McKalip and Under Secretary Alexis Taylor for their confirmations," said Beth Ellikidis, BIO's Vice President for Agriculture & Environment. "While U.S. agricultural exports are strong, there are challenges with trading partners erecting non-science based barriers to restrict trade. BIO looks forward to working with Taylor and McKalip and others in the Administration to overcome these obstacles and grow market access for agricultural innovation."

Winter break developments: successful trials and report on Alzheimer’s inequity

Here are five health stories you might have missed over the past week.

1. Vaccines protect against newest strains of COVID-19. Although the new Omicron XBB.1.5 variant is proving more capable of dodging immunity, boosters still protect against hospitalization, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci and others cited by CNBC.

2. New COVID/flu vaccine candidates: Candidates for a combined flu/COVID-19 vaccine and a standalone flu vaccine developed by BIO member Novavax entered phase 2 clinical trials after successful phase 1/2 trials, the company says.

3. A ‘potential cure for HIV’: In a phase 1 trial, the vaccine developed by BIO member American Gene Technologies (AGT) met its primary endpoint of safety and secondary endpoint of introducing enhanced T cells that remain in the body and are capable of responding to HIV stimulation. AGT is preparing to apply for a phase 2 trial for “this potential cure for HIV.” (To learn more listen to this I am BIO podcast.)

4. More breakthroughs coming: A hemophilia B gene therapy developed by BIO member Pfizer met the primary endpoint of reducing the bleeding rate in phase 3 trials, while potential treatments for a type of muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy type 1, will be developed under a newly announced partnership between BIO member Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Entrada Therapeutics.

5. Systemic racism drives Alzheimer’s disparities, says a recent HHS report: “Nationally, Black Americans are twice as likely and Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) Americans are 1.5 times as likely” as white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases, says HHS.

More Health News: 

The Washington Post: How the monkeypox outbreak revealed the path for vanquishing viruses
“After the disappointments and failures of the response to the coronavirus pandemic, the decline of monkeypox revealed the power of public health to quash disease threats when politics and science align, a community mobilizes to protect its own, and medical advancements are deployed expeditiously.”

President Biden’s Tuesday: Nothing scheduled a day after returning to the White House from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: As the 118th Congress opens today, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Cal.) faces a tight vote for House speaker. In the Senate, Bernie Sanders (D-Vt) takes over the chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and his priorities include reducing the cost of prescription drugs, POLITICO reports.