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NCLifeSci Blog

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Startups struggle with new R&D tax rule 

December 13, 2023

A 2022 tax rule requiring the amortization of research and development expenses has created significant challenges for many life sciences startups and small businesses. Previously, grant money received by these companies and spent on R&D could be deducted immediately in full, but the new rule forces them to spread the deduction over five years for…

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AMR is a silent killer that threatens our health in North Carolina and beyond  

November 1, 2023

The small red bump on my son’s hand looked at first like a bug bite. But when the hand swelled to the point of immobility and we took him to the doctor, the diagnosis was MRSA, an infection from a type of staph bacteria resistant to the family of antibiotics usually prescribed as treatments. Thankfully,…

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Study projects extensive damage to drug development, jobs from drug-pricing policies

July 26, 2023

A new study estimates that there would be 237 fewer FDA approvals of new medicines over the next decade and 1.1 million lost jobs if proposals to expand government-mandated drug pricing policies are implemented.

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Collaboration and statewide support make North Carolina a thriving hub of urgently needed innovation in rare disease.

February 28, 2023

The rarest day on the calendar is the one that does not even occur in every year: February 29. In 2008, this was designated as Rare Disease Day and since then, the last day of February has been an opportunity to draw attention to, honor and support people living with these conditions.

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Where things stand with the TRIPS waiver

November 2, 2022

The World Trade Organization is considering continuing to waive certain intellectual property rights on COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics, following a recent decision to do the same for vaccines.

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Expanding COVID IP waiver would harm small, medium enterprises, CSBA says

October 28, 2022

Every member of the Council of State Bioscience Associations signed a letter to President Joe Biden expressing serious concerns with the proposed expansion of IP protections for COVID technology.

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Part D drug price “negotiation” comes at cost of jobs, investment, cures 

August 11, 2022

Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act on Aug. 12. Included in the law is a provision that gives Medicare Part D the ability to “negotiate” the price of medicines for the first time. Negotiate is in quotation marks because lawmakers are being ironic; no one can legitimately call the new price-setting policy a negotiation.

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BIO: CMS decision enormous setback for Alzheimer’s patients, dangerous infringement on FDA autonomy

April 8, 2022

On April 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services held to its original decision to limit coverage of the Biogen’s Alzheimer’s disease treatment Aduhelm – along with other drugs like it – to clinical trials. Michelle McMurry-Heath, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, released the following statement: “The National Coverage…

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Biotech joins efforts to aid in humanitarian relief in Ukraine

March 4, 2022

The biotech and life sciences industry is coming together to donate a range of critical medical supplies, equipment, and medications to the people of Ukraine. “The conflict in Ukraine and violence from Russia defies international law, norms and modern sensibilities,“ said BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath. “Unfortunately, those suffering the most are individuals…

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CMS decision not to cover Alzheimer’s treatment a bad one

March 2, 2022

NCBIO stands in solidarity with patient advocates and industry leaders in opposing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ draft proposal to restrict coverage for current and future Alzheimer’s drugs targeting beta amyloid, a known hallmark of the disease.  Restricting coverage is a bad idea for so many reasons:  CMS is competing directly with the…

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