Kim Bellard
In all the drama about tariffs, trade wars and market turmoil last week, you may have missed the National Emerging Biotechnology Security Council (NSCEB) released a report: Map the future of biotechnology. Indeed, when Congress sets up a committee in 2022, you might miss it. I know I did it.
Biotech is a big deal and it will become bigger. John Cumbers, founder and CEO of Synbiobeta, wrote that the U.S. bioeconomics is now worth $95 billion, citing a quote from the McKinsey Global Institute that by 2040, biology could generate 60% of the global physical investment, representing a $3 million global opportunity. There is no chance in the United States to miss any chance, but that is exactly what can happen.
The NSCEB report sets the bet:
We stand on the brink of a new industrial revolution, which depends on our ability to design biology. Emerging biotechnology, coupled with artificial intelligence, will change from the way we defend and build nations to the way we nourish and provide care to Americans.
Unfortunately, the report continues: “We now believe that as China moves forward, the United States is lagging behind key areas of emerging biotechnology.”
Their core conclusion is: “China has rapidly upgraded to the dominance of biotechnology, making biotechnology a strategic priority for 20 years.1 To remain competitive, the United States must act quickly over the next three years. Otherwise, we risk falling behind and we may never be able to recover. ”
NSCEB Chairman Senator Todd Young elaborated on:
The competition between the United States and China is locked in, and the game will define the next century. Biotech is the next stage of the competition. It is no longer limited to the field of scientific achievements. Now, this is the necessity of national security, economic power and global influence. Biotechnology can ensure that our fighters continue to be the most powerful combat power on the battlefield tomorrow and re-supply chains while revitalizing our manufacturing sector and creating jobs from home.
“We will see decades of breakthroughs happening, and it seems to be touching almost every aspect of our lives – agriculture, industry, energy, defense and national security,” Michelle Rozo, a molecular biologist and vice-chairman of the NSCEB, said on April 8, in his testimony to the NSCEB's Armed Services Committee on April 8, in his testimony to the NSCEB's Armed Services Committee on April 8, in his testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to testimony to the NSCEB's testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to testimony to test
Paul Zhang, partner at Bluestar BioAdvisors, advises drugmakers on business strategies, including seeking business in China, he explained Wall Street Journal How the goal of China's manufacturing industry is developing: “Initially, it was how to get faster, cheaper, better shoes and sneakers. Then, it was how to build iPhones faster and better. Now, it was how to build biotech and AI faster,” he said.
If you think NSCEB is an alarmist, Julie Heng writes for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), please note:
Over the past decade, China has significantly increased its biotech investments, with biopharmaceutical research and development growing by 400 times, and the market value of biotech companies soaring 100 times between 2016 and 2021, now reaching a collective value of $300 billion… It is worth noting that 79% of U.S. pharmaceutical companies now rely on Chinese contract companies. In addition, China is continuing its comprehensive efforts to support its domestic industry through financing, streamlining regulation and diplomatic support, establishing more than 100 biotechnology research parks and 17 industrial clusters.
It's not just the situation of being eliminated worse. The committee “has good reason to believe that the CCP will weaponize biotechnology and describes some horrible scenarios, including genetically enhanced “super soldiers”, the use of microorganisms to degrade wood and concrete in our buildings and infrastructure, or the reduction of wood and concrete in our buildings and infrastructure, or the development of pathogens that can only cause aggressive crops on us without us knowing, I don’t know what you don’t know.
Therefore, the committee said: “If the United States does not take action, the future of biotech can be disastrous.”
The committee did recommend a plan. The report puts forward six “pillars” and makes 49 suggestions. The six pillars are:
- Pillar 1: Priority to biotechnology at the national level
- Pillar 2: Mobilize the private sector to expand our products
- Pillar 3: Maximize the benefits of biotechnology for defense
- Pillar 4: More than our strategic competitors
- Pillar 5: Build a future biotechnology workforce
- Pillar 6: Mobilize the collective strengths of our allies and partners
The committee’s goal is not to “transcend China” but to “incline our inherent strengths.” Their key advice is to invest at least $15B over the next five years in a bid to attract more private capital into the field. It also called for the establishment of a National Biotechnology Coordination Office to help advance government strategies.
All of this is in danger, and $15B seems not enough. Hopefully Doge didn't find it.
I should probably point out that David Wainer wrote WSJnoted: “The U.S. biotech sector has gone through the years before the latest market crash… More investors even wonder if the entire model (risk science, expensive capital, political uncertainty and long-term waiting for rewards) is just broken. Not a market that inspires new investment to flood — at least not in the U.S.
Dr. Cambers urges:
We have the Rust Belt and the Bible Belt – Now let's build a bio belt: a national network of regional biomanufacturing hubs. These hubs will not only drive innovation, but also drive economic contract renewals, especially in rural and industrial areas. While some jobs will dabble in scientists and engineers, more will dabble in businessmen, factory workers and high school graduates to train and maintain next-generation biological functions.
“If we can't build the ability to make what we invent, we will focus on the rewards of American innovation.” We've seen this movie too many times in other areas and it's not going well for us.
We absolutely need to make biotech a priority. The Office of Federal Investment and National Coordination seems to be a reasonable suggestion. The problem is that we need the same problem in AI and robotics, name only two other key emerging industries. The current government is very focused on bringing back 20Th I have to wonder about the century industry and other century industries: who is looking forward, not behind?
Kim is the former emarketing Exec of the main blues program, late editor and regret tinture.ionow regular THCB contributor
