Preserving U.S. biotech leadership is national security priority, says NSCEB

Today, we have details on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s new report—and why tariffs still threaten biotech, including pharma and ag. (816 words, 4 minutes, 4 seconds)

Preserving U.S. biotech leadership is national security priority, says congressional commission

Maintaining U.S. biotechnology leadership is a national security priority requiring a coordinated strategy that leans into America's strengths by spurring private investment, a congressional commission concludes.

The report: Created by Congress in the 2022 defense budget, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) was tasked with “a comprehensive review of emerging biotechnology’s impact on national security.” The report and recommendations were released on April 8.

The key findings: China’s strategic spending on biotech R&D increased 400-fold in the last decade as they seek to eclipse U.S. dominance in the field. If the U.S. falls behind, it has serious implications for our national security and health.

The key recommendations:

• Strategic funding using federal support to drive private investment.
• Coordinated action with federal leadership.
• Biotech for defense to protect our military.
• Innovation support, using our data as a geopolitical asset and giving researchers all available tools.
• Biotechnology workforce development.
• Working with allies and international partners.

BIO’s view: “The NSCEB final report makes clear that without immediate and bold action, the U.S. will cede its dominance in biotech to China in the next few years. This cannot happen,” said BIO President and CEO John F. Crowley. “The report provides us with a roadmap to unlock private investment in biotechnology and protect the health and security of the American people for generations to come.”

Read more on Bio.News.

Tariffs still threaten biotech

President Trump’s planned “major tariff on pharmaceuticals,” which aims to force U.S. onshoring of manufacturing, is still on the table.

The news: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday the 90-day pause on most country-specific “reciprocal” tariffs would not apply to sector-specific tariffs, such as pharmaceuticals, The Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: Last year’s BIO member survey said reshoring or “friend-shoring” manufacturing could take eight years. BIO’s survey last month showed tariffs would delay or stop innovation, harm investment, and reduce patient access to medicine.

Agricultural biotech is also vulnerable. U.S. agriculture is a prime target for tariffs and trade disputes would foil efforts at speeding regulation of new biotech traits in foreign markets. (Read more.)

Concerns about pharma tariffs were aired by Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and David Schweikert (R-AZ)—who said the U.S. lacks the infrastructure for onshoring—in a House Ways and Means hearing questioning U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer.

BIO’s view: “Re-onshoring key parts of the biotechnology supply chain to the U.S. and our allies and strengthening the American manufacturing base should be a high priority for both national and economic security. It will take years, though, for this shift and we need to be mindful of the negative consequences of these proposed tariffs,” according to BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley.

What Else to Read This Week

Blaming vaccine hesitancy on misinformation won’t solve the problem, because the cause is more complex than that, a new study finds. Vaccine hesitancy reflects a deep mistrust in institutions and subsequent emotional response to perceived coercion, the study shows. A solution? Better communication using a community approach—and patience. 

Drugs for rare diseases afflicting children “rarely make enough money to fund the incredibly expensive research underpinning them,” writes Neil Kumar, CEO of BridgeBio, in STAT News. “So instead of expensive taxpayer-funded grants or subsidies, the government has another way to make up the shortfall. Companies that successfully bring a treatment for a rare pediatric disease to market get a voucher for a speedy FDA review that can be used for a different, unrelated drug.” Kumar explains how the PPRV incentivized a breakthrough by his own company and urges passage of the Give Kids a Chance Act of 2025 to reinstate the PPRV.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $15.3 million in grants to protect animal health. The grants will go to 68 projects and will be funded through the 2018 Farm Bill’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP). 

Sheila Mikhail, CEO of BIO member Jurata, was interviewed onstage at the Small Business Association’s 44th Annual Small Business Forum. During the April 10 event in D.C., Mikhail (pictured above, right), a successful “serial biotech entrepreneur,” shared her experience and advice on building biotech startups.

Beltway Report

ICYMI: BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley was quoted at a House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA). “Here is what the president and CEO of BIO had to say on the removal of Dr. Peter Marks, and I’m quoting here: ‘The loss of experienced leadership at the FDA will erode scientific standards and broadly impact the development of new transformative therapies to fight diseases for the American people,’ “ Sanchez said. “How does firing FDA’s top vaccine official provide assurances for biopharmaceutical companies to invest in lifesaving medicines?” The hearing featured criticism of the Inflation Reduction Act’s disincentives on innovation from Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) and Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC). Rep. Murphy also criticized the negative impacts on drug prices due to abuses by pharmacy benefit managers and the 340B program.

This week there are no hearings in the House and Senate.