What BIO’s watching in the new Congress

This week, we unpack BIO’s priorities for the 119th Congress and take a deep dive into recently reintroduced legislation that would support the development of sustainable aviation fuel. (730 words, 3 minutes, 39 seconds)

What BIO’s watching in the new Congress

BIO’s priorities include pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform and fixes to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), among others.

Unfinished business: BIO hopes for early passage of important legislation cut at the last minute from the December spending bill:

• PBM reform to rein in middlemen who drive up drug prices.
• Pediatric Priority Review Voucher renewal to encourage drugs for rare diseases.
• Pandemic All Hazards Preparedness Act renewal to prepare for the next pandemic. 

“These are measures folks really want to pass,” says Aiken Hackett, BIO’s SVP of Federal Government Relations. “We hope to see those measures included in the spending legislation expected in March.”

Mitigating the IRA: Fixes to remove unintended barriers to rare disease drugs and small-molecule drugs are top BIO priorities.

Tax reforms: Another priority is reinstating 100% deductions for R&D spending to prevent taxes on drugs under development that aren’t yet producing revenue. BIO also wants reinstatement of the 50% Orphan Drug Tax Credit for rare disease treatments.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing threat, but legislation is needed to fix market barriers and incentivize new antimicrobial drugs.

Agriculture and environment: BIO priorities—many contained in the Farm Bill—include support for biostimulants and animal health, encouraging federal purchase of biobased products, and updated regulation. Legislation can also enable biotech’s contribution to renewable energy.

Read more on Bio.News.

Farm to Fly Act promoting SAF reintroduced in Senate

Legislation introduced last year to ease widespread commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) was reintroduced in the Senate on Jan. 16.

Why it matters: SAF, made from bio feedstock, can be dropped into an existing jet engine to reduce airline travel carbon emissions by as much as 70%, so its manufacture and use must be expanded.

The Farm to Fly Act would enhance U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) support for SAF production by:

• Clarifying eligibility for USDA Bio-Energy Programs and expanding markets for crops through aviation bioenergy.
• Encouraging collaboration for aviation biofuels through public-private partnerships with USDA.
• Affirming a common definition of SAF for USDA programs.

Who reintroduced it: U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KN), Chuck Grassley (R-IW), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IW).

Who supports it: The SAF Coalition, a group of stakeholders that includes BIO and advocates for policy to promote SAF. BIO has long supported legislation and federal rules to encourage SAF production and use.

What they’re saying: “The Farm to Fly Act is a meaningful step forward in harnessing the full potential of American agriculture to advance sustainable aviation fuel,” says Alison Graab, Executive Director of the SAF Coalition. “By helping to expand markets for U.S. farmers, this legislation not only strengthens our nation’s energy dominance but also uplifts rural communities across the country.”

Read more on Bio.News.

What Else to Read This Week

Johnson & Johnson’s antidepressant nasal spray approved as a standalone therapy. SPRAVATO® was originally approved for use in combination with other treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) patients having an inadequate response to oral antidepressants. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval announced Tuesday means it can be used without the use of additional antidepressants. MDD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the U.S., impacting 21 million adults, and about a third of them do not respond to oral antidepressants.

More than 150 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates call for enabling biotech to address world food needs. “Since the Green Revolution of the last century, our understanding of biology and genetics has increased greatly. However, requisite productivity increases are now hampered by lack of investment in basic and applied research, and by regulatory barriers,” says an open letter signed by CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna, the Dalai Lama, and Joseph Stiglitz. “Agricultural R&D has long been essential to increasing food production.” Read more on Bio.News.

Georgia Bio rebrands as Georgia Life Sciences. The rebrand establishes “renewed focus and support to the core strengths of the business and academic organizations within Georgia’s life sciences and healthcare communities,” says the organization’s announcement. “Georgia Life Sciences promotes policy development, community programs, industry initiatives, and events, as well as the research and products of its associated member and partner organizations.” Georgia Life Sciences is a member of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), a confederation of state-based, non-profit trade organizations recognized by BIO as affiliate organizations.

Beltway Report: What's Ahead in Washington

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will appear before the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday and the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee Thursday for hearings on his nomination to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.