April 24, 2024

Last week, BioNJ and representatives of a variety of life sciences companies based in New Jersey had a series of meetings with nine of the New Jersey congressional delegation offices and staff. Throughout the meetings, attendees were able to discuss the challenges and opportunities that their companies—and the whole life sciences ecosystem across the country—are currently confronting. 

Our group emphasized topics that included addressing the disparity in how small and large molecule therapeutics are treated by the price-focused provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), how the IRA currently disincentivizes the pursuit of secondary indications for orphan drugs, IRC Section 174 and R&D cost amortization, challenges that Patients confront in accessing women’s and maternal health care and a variety of others.

We are glad that every office was receptive to the thoughts of our group. BioNJ looks forward to continuing to work with the NJ delegation to ensure that New Jersey—as well as the United States—remains a premier home for global biomedical innovation. 

A sample of pictures from some of the meetings our group had on the Hill:

Joe Zorzoli, Genmab, Head of U.S. Government Affairs & Policy; Nick Schemmel, Organon, Director, Federal Affairs and Policy; Wendy Lazarus, WML Public Affairs; Tim Clark, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Head of State Advocacy; Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11); Paul Howard, PhD, Amicus Therapeutics, Senior Director of Public Policy; David Powley, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Vice President of Reproductive Medicine and Commercial Operations; Ian McLaughlin, PhD, BioNJ, Vice President of Government Affairs

Nick Schemmel, Organon, Director, Federal Affairs and Policy; Ian McLaughlin, PhD, BioNJ, Vice President of Government Affairs; Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-8); Paul Howard, PhD, Amicus Therapeutics, Senior Director of Public Policy; Wendy Lazarus, WML Public Affairs; Joe Zorzoli, Genmab, Head of U.S. Government Affairs & Policy

At the end of last week, a federal appeals court upheld an injunction that prevents the Democratic Party from using the State’s “county-line” ballot design, which has been unique to New Jersey. As a result, the primary election at the beginning of June will almost certainly use the standard office-block design barring an unlikely intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The county line design is widely considered to provide electoral advantages to candidates who are supported by the party in each county, and the elimination of this ballot design is anticipated to result in a significant shift in how elections will play out across the State. The suit was initiated by Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-3) during his campaign for the Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Bob Menendez.

While this ruling applies to the primary for the Democratic Party, the primary for the Republican Party is not currently subject to this prohibition. However, the Burlington County Clerk has chosen to eliminate the lines for the Republican primary, and Salem and Sussex Counties did not previously use the county-line design. 

The deadline for clerks to begin sending mail-in ballots for the primary was April 20. So this elimination of the county-line ballot design is almost certain to be used for the upcoming election in June.

As most legislative committees have diminished their activities during budget season, a minimal number of bills have been considered by legislative bodies.

• Biomarker bills introduced:
• S3098 (Gopal/Singleton) | A4163 (Sumter/Schaer/Haider) - Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker testing.
• A3364 (Conaway/Speight) - Clarifies cap on fees imposed under "County Option Hospital Fee Program Act."
• Moved through Assembly Health in January and was reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on April 11.
• Senate Environment & Energy Committee (SEN) held an informational hearing focused on the issue of plastic pollution on April 22.
• Testimony focused largely on the cycle of plastics production, recycling, bottle regulation, plastics-associated health and other topics.

The Legislature is expected to continue to hold budget hearings for the rest of April and May with a handful of committee hearings and voting sessions until the passage of the budget towards the end of June.

Representative Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10), six-term member of Congress, passed away today at the age of 65 following a heart attack earlier this month. His father, Rep. Donald Payne Sr., was the first Black member of Congress elected in New Jersey, and Congressman Payne Jr. sustained his father’s legacy of devotion to racial justice and equal rights for all. Further, Congressman Payne Jr. was a steadfast advocate for awareness of colon cancer, access to early diagnosis, and preventative treatment — with a particular emphasis on access among lower income individuals.

BioNJ is saddened by the loss of such a reliable and effective proponent for the wellbeing of all residents of New Jersey, and we wish the best for his loved ones.

For a statement from Governor Phil Murphy on the passing of Congressman Payne Jr., click here.

Last week, the Chair and several members of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology sent a letter to the President regarding the Administration's "Draft Interagency Guidance Framework for Considering the Exercise of March-In Rights". The guidance was released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the letter sent by the Committee conveys the concerns that many policymakers and members of the life sciences sector—as well as R&D-intensive industries more broadly—have regarding the ramifications that the misuse of the March-In provisions of the Bayh-Dole Act would have on innovation in the United States.

To read the Committee’s letter, click here.

The Bayh-Dole Coalition—headed by Joseph P. Allen, who served as a critical staffer to Sen. Birch Bayh during the drafting of this pivotal legislation—has released new resources to articulate the importance of this policy and the peril of contradicting its fundamental mission, as recent efforts are pursuing.

To see the one-pager from the Bayh-Dole Coalition, click here.

BioNJ is the voice of New Jersey’s life sciences sector in Trenton and Washington. BioNJ’s Public Policy Support Series sponsorship opportunities are now available for 2024. Help ensure BioNJ continues to deliver our message of improved Patient access and enhanced innovation through a Public Policy Support Series Sponsorship.  

Click here for more information.

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