BIOtechNow

2015 was a year of challenges and accomplishments for the Industrial Biotechnology Industry. Several issues, especially the Renewable Fuel Standard, were up for discussion and debate. Below are 10 noteworthy Industrial Biotechnology events that happened in 2015, making it a memorable year for the industry. Renewable Fuel Standard – On November 30th, the EPA announced its final rule setting the level of required volumes of biofuel for 2014, 2015 and 2016, with an additional 2017 Read More 

The back to school hustle slowly creeps up in August; but before you buy your kid pencils, notebooks and the backpack they “must have,” make sure that they—and you—are up to date with vaccinations and immunizations! The Center for Disease Control has dedicated this month to raise awareness of the benefits of immunization to prevent the spread of disease. National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) encourages people to communicate the importance of protecting and defending lifelong Read More 

A new paper by the Geneva Network suggests that increasing the period of regulatory data protection (RDP) for biologic medicines would not increase expenditures for medicines. As countries navigate the final negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the U.S. and Japan have advocated for increased regulatory data protection for biologic medicines by other TPP countries. In the U.S. biologics enjoy 12 years of data exclusivity; the only TPP countries, aside from the U.S, offering more than Read More 

Agri-Pulse recently published an op-ed titled “The Biotechnology Riddle” by Marshall Matz which outlined how ag biotech was “front and center” in both executive and congressional affairs this past July. He guides readers through the actions taken by legislative officials to promote the benefits of biotechnology and scientific literacy. First on July 2nd the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Office of U.S. Trade Representative issued an Executive Memorandum to “Modernize Read More 

In the United States, more than one million people are infected with HIV, with an estimated 50,000 newly diagnosed each year. While African Americans make up only 12-14 percent of the U.S. population they account for nearly half (44 percent) of all the new HIV infections in the U.S. (CDC). Today, as the United States observes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we’d like to take a look at some of the scientific advancements made in Read More 

In light of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) re-introduction of the Innovation Act, BIO and university representatives are urging the 114th Congress to protect their intellectual property, emphasizing the crucial role of patent protection in research and development.  In his statement on the re-introduction of the Innovation Act, BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood urged caution: “BIO supports targeted reforms to reign in abusive patent enforcement practices, but any efforts to accomplish this Read More 

GMO Answers recently received the question “What are Some Safety Issues with GMOs?”  Site expert Robert Wager M.Sc., a faculty member in the Biology Department, at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC, Canada, answered this question below. “When discussing safety of GM crops and derived food it is easier to separate the food safety aspects from the environmental aspects.  This answer will deal with food safety issues. Every GM crop is extensively tested for food Read More 

Groundhog Day arrived ahead of schedule this year, as the World Resources Institute launched its annual attack on biofuels. But the yearly ritual took on a tinge of April Fools’ Day as the environmental group oddly advocated that the U.S. firmly establish the blend wall in regulatory rules and thereby guarantee fossil fuels a 90 percent share of the gasoline market. The institute released a “new” report titled “Avoiding Bioenergy Competition for Food Crops and Read More 

Today, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and committee member Richard Burr (R-N.C.) released a report on the challenges of ‘getting safe treatments, devices and cures to patients more quickly and effectively.’ Specifically, the report looks at what is and is not working at the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. The report kicks off a major initiative by the Committee to examine challenges with drug and medical device development Read More 

A recent survey by the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics finds that over 80 percent of Americans support “mandatory labels on foods containing DNA,” about the same number as support mandatory labeling of GMO foods “produced with genetic engineering.” Washington Post reported on the survey:   If the government does impose mandatory labeling on foods containing DNA, perhaps the label might look something like this: WARNING: This product contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The Surgeon General has Read More 

Ever wonder how scientists deal with uncertainty as they search for answers?GMO Answers posted a great excerpt from a recent SenseAboutScience publication which explores why uncertainty is a natural occurrence in the field of science and how scientists deal with it: “Introduction: Why Make Sense of Uncertainty? “Scientific uncertainty is prominent in research that has big implications for our society: could the Arctic be ice-free in summer by 2080? Will a new cancer drug be worth its Read More 

Two recent studies on Indian drugs have shown that patent protection does not dramatically increase prices, but does ensure widespread access to life saving therapeutics. This research confirms that a weak patent environment slows drug availability and hinders treatment to many people in need. Data Shows Little Change in Indian Drug Prices after Implementing Stronger Patent System In a new report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, scholars found that patented drugs did not Read More 

The Buzz of BIO contest at the 2015 BIO CEO & Investor Conference recognizes highly innovative companies in the biotech sector and helps position these companies to develop strategic partnerships within the industry. Voting has officially opened for the below companies nominated in each of two categories – Most Distinguished Public Company and Most Promising Private Company. Winners will receive a complimentary company presentation and individual registration, plus promotion by BIO and BioCentury. The Most Distinguished Read More 

What do patent trolls and Nigerian princes have in common? Two things come to mind. First, if you get an email from either one, nothing good can come from it. Second, hardly anybody falls for either scam. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the most notorious patent assertion entity (otherwise known as a patent troll) has agreed to a consent decree. Which means they have agreed to halt their deceptive business practices. Of course, Read More 

A new report from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has determined that strong patent protection accelerates the speed at which new drugs are launched in different countries. Providing affordable access is often challenged by the need to provide adequate incentives for developing new drugs, and ensuring affordable prices once they develop. Often neglected in the larger debate is that the speed at which drugs are launched and adopted in new countries is one Read More