Good Day BIO: On World AIDS Day, equity is in the spotlight

December begins with World AIDS Day—we look at how biotech has driven progress, and how equity needs to be at the center to eradicate the disease. Plus, we look at how sugarcane is sweetening the potential of biotech to address climate change. (624 words, 3 minutes, 7 seconds)

World AIDS Day: Equity must be at the center

While biotechnology is leading the global battle against AIDS, equity must be at the center if we want to eradicate the disease, say international public health officials on World AIDS Day. 

While we’ve made great progress, there’s still a huge toll: In 2021, there were 38.4 million people globally living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and last year, 650,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses, per UNAIDS.

What they’re saying: “Equalize access to rights, equalize access to services, equalize access to resources, equalize access to the best science and medicine,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said.

Equity is a solution: As one example, allowing girls in sub-Saharan Africa to finish secondary school raises their educational equity and “reduces their vulnerability to HIV infection by up to 50%,” Byanyima said. And worldwide, equity in the availability, quality, and suitability of services and treatments is needed.

COVID-19 accelerated progress on a possible vaccine, which is “key to realizing a durable end to the HIV pandemic,” according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Clinical trials by Moderna are underway using the mRNA technology in the COVID vaccine to potentially develop a vaccine against HIV.

Biotech continues to develop new therapies, too—like the first-ever, twice-yearly HIV therapy, Sunlenca (lenacapavir). Developed by BIO member Gilead Sciences, the treatment is designed for patients whose current therapy is no longer working.

But: “We still have a hard road ahead, especially in addressing racial and gender gaps in our health systems, which have long driven inequitable HIV outcomes at home and abroad,” said President Biden yesterday. Learn more from PEPFAR and Bio.News.

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Biotech sweetens sugarcane’s ability to protect the environment

What’s better than candy canes and Christmas cookies? Sugarcane is a super crop that’s sweetening the potential of biotech to reduce the environmental footprint of everyday products.

What’s happening: Sugarcane types are being tested (and improved) by scientists to find new, environmentally friendly applications, including gene editing to enhance sugarcane’s usefulness as a raw material, reports Bio.News.

It’s being used in biomanufacturing. BIO member Virent, as one example, combines sugarcane, corn, and sugar beets to create bioplastic with lower emissions and carbon intensity than traditional, petroleum-based plastic as we detailed in our recent podcast.

It’s turbocharging ethanol. Sugarcane is already considered one of the best ethanol feedstocks for fast growth, high yield, reduced carbon inputs, low processing cost, and high positive energy balance, and now scientists are improving it with gene editing.

It’s even helping to save the sharks. BIO member Amyris uses genetically modified yeast fermented with sugarcane to generate sustainable squalane, a replica of squalene traditionally taken from the livers of sharks, for use in beauty and household products.

What’s next: Farmers in Brazil are doubling down on gene-edited sugarcane resistant to stem-boring insects, Reuters reported earlier this year—potentially boosting the crop for biomanufacturing and food production. Meanwhile, Shell recently announced they plan to buy 3.25 billion liters of ethanol made from sugarcane waste. 

Read more in Bio.News.

President Biden’s Thursday: Hosting French President Macron in a visit mixing diplomacy and glamor, according to NPR. See the White House statement on the visit.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate is negotiating a lame-duck spending bill and is expected to take up a House bill to prevent a rail strike. Some GOP Senators are threatening to hold up a bill on military spending unless a vaccine mandate is eliminated, NBC reports. The House is set to debate H.R. 6878, the Pregnant Women in Custody Act, which addresses health needs of pregnant women in custody.