Hillary Clinton made some pertinent remarks when she visited San Diego in 2014 to speak at the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s annual convention. With the election almost upon us, it’s worth reviewing these comments.
(NOTE: I have not seen Donald Trump speak on biotech. But Trump’s own health care proposals are on his website, j.mp/trumphealthcare. Briefly, he wants to completely repeal Obamacare, allow sale of health insurance policies across state lines, and allow consumers to buy “imported, safe and dependable drugs from overseas,” to give consumers more options.
A lengthy analysis of Trump’s possible effect on the industry by Seeking Alpha can be read at j.mp/tbiotechtrump. A positive take on his biotech policies is at j.mp/trumpforbio. Finally, I’d be happy to interview Trump about biotech at more length).
My original article on Clinton’s interview is at j.mp/clintonbiotech. Much of what Clinton said concerned political issues, and I left those things for the political reporters. But she did make some interesting points on innovation and on GMO crops.
Clinton was interviewed by Jim Greenwood, BIO’s president and CEO. Greenwood asked her views on GMO crops.
Clinton said she supports GMO crops that have a proven track record of safety. GMO advocates need to stress the benefits of these crops, such as drought resistance, and not dwell on their genetic modification.
“Genetically modified sounds Frankensteinish,” Clinton said. “Drought-resistant sounds like something you’d want. So how do you create a different vocabulary to talk about what it is you’re trying to help people do?”
Makers of these crops should continue to talk with skeptics, pointing out scientific evidence of their safety and explaining that they may already be eating GMOs.
On innovation, Clinton said national policies need to be established to encourage biotech companies to make needed new therapies, along with keeping prices as low as feasible. Getting all three in harmony is a dilemma, she said, because of the high risk involved in drug discovery and development.
One idea is for government to help pick up some of that risk, she said, which would help control costs.
Clinton praised California for establishing a state stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, to fund research and speed innovation. Voters approved $6 billion in state bonds, with CIRM getting $3 billion. (The additional $3 billion is for interest over the bonds’ lifetime.)
“States have a role to play, but we need a national framework,” Clinton said.
©2016 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
