Michelle McMurry-Heath

As CEO for the world’s largest biotech lobbying organization, McMurry-Heath is a regular (virtual) presence on Capitol Hill, where she has spent the past year arguing against Biden administration proposals to impose price controls on drugs and suspend patent protection for vaccines. But McMurry-Heath, a molecular immunologist and former Johnson & Johnson executive, is also credited with stabilizing BIO at a time of strife over drug-pricing reform, both inside and outside the industry. The veteran scientist is open about the challenges. “Change,” she told STAT, “is messy.”

From STAT:

• Biotech’s new chief lobbyist says she’s a social justice advocate. Will the industry walk the walk?
• ‘Change is messy’: Inside the tumultuous efforts to stabilize BIO, the biotech lobby
• Opinion: Waiving intellectual property rights would compromise global vaccination efforts