During the ongoing BIO International Convention in Boston between June 5th and 8th, the US lobbying group has announced a new board chair in Ted Love as well as a new executive committee.
Love is a longstanding BIO board director and the former President & CEO of Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), a company which was acquired by Pfizer for USD 5.4 billion last year. The organisation’s first black chair, Love faces a full task list during his term. The US biotech industry is attempting to navigate a new – perhaps more European-style healthcare landscape with smaller profit margins – whereby Medicare can negotiate drug prices for the first time following the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) earlier this year. Love also needs to help restore a more positive image for the industry following a lengthy and bitter lobbying battle in the run-up to the IRA being passed.
Moreover, BIO itself has had a troubled last 12 months which included the high-profile departure of former CEO Michelle McMurry Heath who reportedly clashed with board members on the extent to which the organisation should focus on social justice issues, including the restriction of voting rights in the state of Georgia, abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade, and boycotting Russia following the Ukraine invasion. McMurry Heath, according to the Wall Street Journal, instead wanted to prioritise industry issues, including the then upcoming rollout of the IRA.
In a press release, McMurry Heath’s replacement as BIO President and CEO Rachel King said, “BIO is thrilled to welcome Ted as our new Board Chair. Ted is a proven innovator who has developed and brought critical therapies to market. He embodies the industry’s mission to advance innovation, increase access to novel treatments, and build an inclusive workforce to reach our most underserved patient communities.”
Love added, “I am excited to lead BIO and the individuals elected today as we usher in a new era for the biotechnology industry. Throughout my career, I’ve seen what it means when people cannot access the care they need. Greater diversity in our industry will help drive innovation forward, especially for segments of our society who lack access to critical medical treatments, adequate nutrition, and a clean environment.”
This commitment to issues beyond biotech itself was echoed in a statement from outgoing Board Chair Paul Hastings, president & CEO of Nkarta, Inc., who helped to lead the industry through its COVID and post-COVID transition. “In recent years, BIO and the biotech industry-at-large have been a driving force in the fight against COVID and for future pandemic preparedness,” he said. “But equally important are the positions we have taken on issues such as diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, affordable access to medical innovation for all patients, and increased access to agricultural and environmental innovations”
The full list of BIO executive committee directors for 2023-2024 is as follows:
▪ Ted W. Love, MD, Global Blood Therapeutics – Board Chair (Chair of the Health Section)
▪ Elizabeth Lewis, JD, Takeda Oncology – Associate Vice Chair & Secretary
▪ Bradford A. Zakes, MBA, Cerevast Medical, Inc. – Treasurer of Full Board
▪ John F. Crowley, JD, MBA, Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. – Health Section Vice Chair (Board Vice Chair)
▪ Anna Rath, JD, Vestaron Corporation – Agriculture & Environment (A&E) Chair
▪ Erika Smith, MBA, ReNetX Bio – Emerging Companies Section (ECS) Chair
▪ Duane J. Simpson, Bayer CropScience, Inc. – Agriculture & Environment (A&E) Vice-Chair
▪ Grace E. Colón, PhD, Bloom Science, Inc. – ECS Vice Chair
▪ Sylvia Wulf, MBA, AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. – A&E Section At-Large
▪ Angela Ailloni, MBA, Ginkgo Bioworks – A&E Section At-Large
▪ Paul J. Hastings, Nkarta, Inc. – Immediate Past Chair
▪ Stuart A. Arbuckle, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated – At-Large Director
▪ Bill Sibold, MBA, Sanofi – At-Large Director
▪ Fritz Bittenbender, MPA, Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group – At-Large Director
▪ Catherine Owen, Bristol Myers Squibb – At-Large Director
▪ Eric Dube, PhD, Travere Therapeutics, Inc. – At-Large Director
▪ Aamir Malik, Pfizer Inc. – At-Large Director
▪ Jannie Oosthuizen, Merck – At-Large Director
▪ Victor Bultó, Novartis – At-Large Director
▪ Bill Newell, JD, Sutro Biopharma, Inc. – At-Large Director
▪ Joseph LaRosa, JD, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – At-Large Director
▪ Ian Thompson, MBA, Amgen Inc. – At-Large Director
▪ Sofie Qiao, PhD, Vivace Therapeutics, Inc. – At-Large Director
Image source: Global Blood Therapeutics
