Biocom California

Autoimmune diseases stem from immune imbalance, not just overactivity. Sonoma Biotherapeutics is leading the way with TReg cell therapy, leveraging decades of research from CEO and co-founder Jeffrey Bluestone, Ph.D. By expanding and enhancing a patient’s own TReg cells, Sonoma is developing therapies that move beyond symptom management to reset immune function for lasting treatment. With a commitment to innovation and collaboration, the company is working to bring this new class of medicine to patients. Learn more in their Your Story is Our Story feature: https://bit.ly/4iycfj0

On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as NIH Director on a party line vote of 53-47, and Dr. Marty Makary as FDA Commissioner with a vote of 56-44. Later in the week, HHS Secretary Kennedy announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs from across the department, including a 19% reduction to the FDA’s workforce and 6% decrease in NIH staff.   Why is this important? Biocom California has consistently advocated for appropriately staffed and well-resourced federal agencies that support the life science innovation ecosystem. Over the past few months, the NIH and FDA have seen significant changes, including a grant funding freeze, communication freeze, regulatory freeze, and agency layoffs. Prior to this week’s announcement, the NIH had already terminated almost 1,200 employees and over 1,000 employees at the FDA were let go. While these new cuts are not supposed to affect drug, medical device, and food reviewers, nor agency inspectors, it remains crucial to ensure agency administrative processes do not slow down amidst this HHS reorganization.   What will the impact be? Agency workforce reductions, upcoming funding cuts across the board, and a continued pause of new grant awards have already disrupted many of our members’ research activities. During their confirmation hearings, Dr. Bhattacharya and Dr. Makary committed to ensuring that agency staff have adequate resources moving forward and to resuming grant funding. Biocom California congratulates Drs. Bhattacharya and Makary on their new roles and stands ready to be a resource and work with them to ensure that the NIH and FDA have the tools and manpower needed to maintain their operations that support the life science sector. Next week, I will be traveling to Washington D.C. to discuss the impact of new policies on California’s life science industry. 

Happy #NewMemberMonday!   👩🔬 Ascendis Pharma leverages its technology to create therapies in endocrinology and oncology 🥼 Circular Genomics specializes in precision psychiatric and neurologic medicine ✨ Decibel Bio is revolutionizing plant biotechnology with the first crop epigenetic platform 🔬 Eurofins CDMO Alphora provides clients with API and drug product development services 🧪 Mesa Laboratories, Inc. manufactures life science tools and quality control products 👨🔬 Snow Canyon Therapeutics develops therapies for neurodegenerative diseases

In this week's Bay Area Newsletter: Lilly-partnered Fauna Bio plans $40M Series A; Bristol Meyers Squibb's Science Firsthand platform celebrates path from drug discovery to drug development; Montara Therapeutics, Inc. closes $20M oversubscribed seed expansion; Orca Bio announces positive phase 3 results for Orca-T® to treat hematologic malignancies. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/3PVYyhu

We're counting down the days until we hear from leading experts at #ConvergeSummit on how the integration of AI, ML and synthetic biology is revolutionizing life science and healthcare. Which panel session are you most excited about? Apply now to attend: https://bit.ly/4hhFF41

In this week's Greater LA Newsletter: Biocom California Institute launched BioCAD Data Programming for Biomanufacturing Scale-up program with Santa Clara University, NIIMBL | The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals; Sorriso Pharmaceuticals presents positive SOR102 Phase 1b Ulcerative Colitis Data at ECCO Conference; welcoming new members: Amrixa Pharmaceuticals, NeuroQure and Eppendorfand more. Subscribe: bit.ly/3PVYyhu

Catch this month’s Core Newsletter to learn more about ODP Business Solutions' partnership with Everybody Water, centrexIT's recent Cybersecurity Trustmark Accreditation, our upcoming Earth Day Symposium, partner news and more. Read the full edition: https://bit.ly/3DVJj5Q

Looking for your next career move? At Career Hub by Biocom California Institute, you have access to over 80,000 jobs from nearly 1,600 companies throughout the U.S. With the ability to search by role, company, location, and more, it's easy to find the right fit for you. Discover jobs across the life science career spectrum, such as: - Manager/Sr. Manager of Regulatory Affairs at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals in San Diego - Specimen Collector at Millennium Health in Portland - Plasma Center Nurse at Takeda in Baltimore - Sr. Facilities Manager at Cushman & Wakefield in New York Upload your resume to start your search today: careerhub.biocom.org/jobs

Did you catch this month’s Public Policy Newsletter? In it, we celebrate Assemblymember Akilah Weber Pierson and San Diego City Council Pro Tem Kent Lee as our 2024 Elected Officials of the Year, an update on recent executive orders, plastic reduction law regulations to be revised and more. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4hkRyWO

In this week's San Diego Newsletter: Circular Genomics joins Lilly Gateway Labs to develop its RNA platform for Alzheimer’s; Dexcom survey shows healthcare providers opt for CGM tech over new meds in diabetes; Scripps Health plans to build a $1.2B med center in San Marcos; and more. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/4iqn5b1