Voters support the Bayh-Dole Act

A new poll shows voters like the Bayh-Dole Act—but not when it’s used for price controls. Plus, catch up on what’s been happening with PBMs and what we’re watching during World Alzheimer’s Month. (545 words, 2 minutes, 43 seconds)

Poll: Voters support Act that protects IP, oppose its use for price controls

A large majority of Americans want to preserve the Bayh-Dole Act’s support for innovation and do not want the law misused for drug price controls, a poll released yesterday shows.

The key takeaways: 85% of voters want policymakers to protect Bayh-Dole, says the Morning Consult poll, sponsored by the Bayh-Dole Coalition. Voters are nearly twice as likely to say they’ll support a candidate who wants to protect Bayh-Dole than a candidate planning to change it significantly.

Why it matters: The 1980 law enables universities, non-profits, and small biotechs to own, patent, and commercialize inventions developed through federally funded research. It’s credited with creating 13,000 startups and the market launch of 300 new drugs between 1996-2017.

Why we’re talking about it: While Bayh-Dole allows the government to “march in” and take a patent under limited circumstances, to ensure that publicly funded inventions don't sit on the shelf, some officials are trying to misuse it to control prices.

Voters don’t want that: “77% of voters are concerned that using the Bayh-Dole Act as a price control mechanism could reduce access to cutting-edge treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and rare diseases, “ the Bayh-Dole Coalition notes.

Celebrating Bayh-Dole’s successes: The Bayh-Dole Coalition recently named five recipients of the inaugural Bayh-Dole Coalition American Innovator Award in honor of their life-changing innovations—read more in Bio.News.

More News: 

BIO: New BIO Working Groups give growing ag & environment biotech sector a public policy voice
“BIO’s Agriculture & Environment regulatory working groups now include an Agricultural Biologicals Working Group and a Biobased Manufacturing Working Group, as well as a Plant Working Group and an Animal Working Group.”

BIO Policy Pulse: PBMs in the Spotlight

Bipartisan agreement is rare these days, but members of both sides of the aisle agree on one thing: it’s time to reform the way pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, take advantage of the American healthcare system. We take a look at what’s been happening and what’s ahead (after the government is funded, of course) – watch here.

World Alzheimer’s Month marks progress, work still needed

More than 6 million Americans, including 10.7% of adults over 65, have Alzheimer’s—but approvals of the first new treatments in decades provide hope. But ensuring access remains a challenge.

The good news: A new class of drugs targeting amyloid plaque in the brain has been shown to reduce cognitive decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients. Eisai and Biogen’s LEQEMBI was the first to receive traditional approval, and Eli Lilly anticipates approval of its donanemab by year’s end.

The challenge: Medicare covers drugs in this class only if they receive traditional approval AND patients participate in a registry, creating what advocates say are barriers to access.

What’s ahead: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed to expand coverage to include multiple PET scans of amyloid brain plaque, with a final decision set for Oct. 15.

Alzheimer’s is personal for Anne White, Eli Lilly’s President of Neuroscience, who shared how caring for her mother inspired her to become an advocate. She’ll join a panel of women leaders during The Atlantic Festival this afternoon—learn more here.

What they’re saying: “People with early Alzheimer’s disease need and deserve full coverage and access for approved therapies,” says White.

President Biden’s Thursday: Giving a public speech honoring the late Sen. John McCain at the Tempe Center For The Arts before attending a fundraiser in Arizona.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: We’re watching the continued government funding negotiations.