September 18, 2023  | BIO

Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA) and Wiley Nickel (D-NC) today introduced the Optimizing Research Progress Hope And New Cures (ORPHAN Cures Act). BIO President and CEO, Rachel King, made the following remarks: 

“This legislation is a welcome and bipartisan fix to the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) negative impact on the development of drugs to treat rare diseases.   

“Encouraging R&D for drugs to treat rare diseases is difficult as is. By definition, orphan drugs benefit small patient populations, making investment in this space incredibly risky. But there is tremendous need for these treatments. Fewer than 5 percent of rare diseases have an FDA approved treatment. We have repeatedly warned that the IRA — by subjecting drugs that can treat more than one rare disease to government price controls — creates even more barriers to investment into follow-on research and development for orphan drugs.   

“The new bill, introduced by Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA) and Wiley Nickel (D-NC), changes the incentive structure within IRA to encourage follow-on investment into orphan drug development. Reversing IRA’s perverse incentives will eliminate the significant barrier for scientists to usher in new waves of rare disease drug innovation – all to the benefit of the thousands of patients currently suffering from rare diseases for which no treatments exist.   

“BIO looks forward to working with lawmakers to get the Optimizing Research Progress Hope And New Cures (ORPHAN Cures Act) across the finish line as quickly as possible.”

Georgia Life Sciences Designates City of Atlanta as Newest BioReady® Community

By Sheran Brown • February 21, 2025
Georgia Life Sciences Designates City of Atlanta as Newest BioReady® Community

Bipartisan PBM Reform Back in Focus as House Committee Plans Hearing

By Sheran Brown • February 20, 2025
A renewed push for prescription drug cost reform is gaining momentum in Congress, with the House Energy and Commerce Committee's health subcommittee planning a hearing on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform for late February. The hearing, to be led by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), signals a revival of bipartisan efforts to regulate these pharmaceutical intermediaries. PBMs, which negotiate drug prices for insurers and employers, have become a focal point in the broader discussion of healthcare costs. A previous bipartisan agreement to regulate these entities was crafted by Carter and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) in the last Congress, though it ultimately stalled when the larger spending bill it was attached to faced opposition. The reform efforts enjoy broad support from both parties and the president, making it one of the few areas with potential for bipartisan cooperation. However, new complications have emerged as Republicans consider using PBM regulations to generate savings for their broader policy agenda, potentially requiring up to $880 billion in cost reductions. The path forward remains uncertain, with ongoing debates about whether such reforms would qualify for budget reconciliation and whether using PBM regulations as a funding mechanism could derail bipartisan cooperation. Meanwhile, stakeholders continue to disagree on the impact of additional PBM regulation, with pharmaceutical companies arguing that PBMs inflate drug costs while PBMs contend that new regulations would increase prices.

Council on State Biotechnology Associations says NIH funds are a critical component of innovation ecosystem

By Sheran Brown • February 20, 2025
The Council of State Biotechnology Associations (CSBA) has issued a strong warning about proposed cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, emphasizing the critical role these grants play in America's biotech innovation ecosystem. The statement, below , comes amid concerns over recent guidance that would reduce NIH funding to key research institutions. ----------------------- “Today, the US biotech industry employs nearly 2.3 million people across the US and is making positive contributions to economic impact and national security across all 50 states. In fact, for every dollar the National Institutes of Health (NIH) contributes to a successful drug, the private sector invests over $65, underscoring the agency’s unparalleled return on investment. As the associations representing the bioscience industry across the nation, the Council on State Biotechnology Associations (CSBA) is concerned by recent guidance that would cut funding provided by the NIH to universities, hospitals, and other institutions that perform critical early-stage research. NIH grant funds are a critical component of our innovation ecosystem. Grants for basic research are the spark that leads to university-driven discoveries, with public-private partnerships and tech transfers that bridge early-stage research to industry-sponsored drug development and ultimately to FDA approved medical advances for hundreds of diseases. While the administration looks for greater efficiency in the use of taxpayer dollars, it cannot be overstated - once scientific innovation moves abroad, it may never return. In the race for scientific innovation around the world, as our adversaries continue to increase government investments in research, we encourage President Trump to follow suit and ensure that we maintain our global leadership in an industry that was created and thrives across the US.”
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