WASHINGTON — The sprawling trade association for companies making everything from weed killer to CAR-T cancer therapies, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, has new leadership. But it’s still not apologizing for the toxic reputation many of its member companies have on Capitol Hill, and in the minds of Americans, more generally.
BIO elected Dr. Jeremy Levin, CEO of Ovid Therapeutics, to be its new board chair in June. It was a planned transition, but one that the group insists will foster more open and frequent communication about the positive role biotech companies play in American life. The group also recently hired a new executive vice president to spearhead its messaging.
These changes couldn’t come at a more important time: BIO’s leadership admits the industry it represents is going through something of an existential crisis: They argue that policies being considered in Washington could dry up venture capital flowing into their companies virtually overnight, and they admit, too, that lawmakers are reluctant to work with the industry, even on proposals that could garner public support.
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