Every seat in both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly will be up for a vote next Tuesday, on November 7. For information on ways to vote, click here.

As the State prepares for these statewide elections, there are a few districts that are worth monitoring as bellwethers regarding how the votes are likely to play out. New Jersey’s 4th Legislative District, which is located in the southeastern region of the State, is considered to be among the more competitive elections. Given that democrats Senator Madden and Assemblywoman Mosquera both announced their intention to depart from their seats, as well as the fairly close electoral margins in the most recent general election, the outcomes in the 4th Legislative District may represent an indication of how other close elections are likely to play out.

Another district worth watching will be New Jersey’s 11th Legislative District, which covers a variety of municipalities in Monmouth County. The 16th Legislative District, which covers a variety of municipalities in Hunterdon County — home to a variety of companies in the life sciences — will be worth watching, particularly due to the announcement by Assemblywoman Jaffer of her intention to vacate her seat following what were fairly narrow electoral margins after the most recent election. Finally, the 3rd Legislative District, spanning municipalities throughout Cumberland County, will be worth monitoring. In particular, Sen. Ed Durr (R-LD3), who defeated former Senate President, Steve Sweeney in 2021 and won the primary challenge by Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer, is facing a challenge by former long-time Assemblyman and Appropriations Committee Chair, John Burzichelli.

At the end of the day of October 29, 65% of early votes cast were from Democrats and 22% from Republicans. 13% were from unaffiliated voters.

As all of the most recent elections in the above districts and others were determined by fairly narrow margins in the most recent elections — and the narrowing majorities in both legislative bodies over the past several elections — the outcomes of the elections next Tuesday will play a significant role in the trajectory of policymaking next year.

BioNJ looks forward to continuing to work with every elected legislator following this upcoming election to ensure that New Jersey continues to be home to one of the most critical hubs of biomedical innovation in the country.

After about three weeks of nominations and votes, Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected to be the next Speaker of the House on October 25. A four-term member of Congress, Speaker Johnson takes the gavel with just about two weeks before the current continuing resolution which funds the government expires on November 17. Prior to being elected Speaker, Rep. Johnson was serving his second term as the Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference and previously served one term as the Republican Study Committee Chairman. His election to the Speakership followed a series of internal party ballots that included the nomination of House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), who withdrew his candidacy hours after his nomination.

Speaker Johnson was elected in 2015 to represent Louisiana’s 4th congressional district, which spans much of the northern regions of the State. His ascendence to the Speakership makes him an additional member of Congress in senior leadership from Louisiana, joining Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), who has been in party leadership for over a decade. Louisiana’s 1st congressional district, which Rep. Scalise represents, covers most of New Orleans’ suburbs and some of the city itself, as well as other regions south of New Orleans.

Given the importance of continued operations across governmental organizations to the continuity of regulatory processes that determine when Patients ultimately have access to emerging innovations, we hope that the Congress will develop a viable spending bill prior to the expiration of this current continuing resolution.

On October 26, BioNJ joined a coalition of organizations to support a briefing for congressional offices focused on the importance of fixing the changes that were made to IRC Section 174 in 2017. The panel discussion, moderated by Brent Fisk of California Life Sciences, included insights contributed by Aaron Borenstein, Senior Director of Global Tax at PTC Therapeutics, Bill Newell, CEO of Sutro Biopharma, and Sylvia Wulf, Board Chair and CEO of AquaBounty.

A variety of topics were discussed before an audience that included staffers from legislative offices and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. A prominent issue that was conveyed was the impact that a failure to return IRC Section 174 to its status prior to 2017 — which would reenable the expensing of R&D costs currently rather than exclusively via amortization over 5 years — would have on biomedical innovation in the United States. Additionally, the impact that a failure to remedy this policy change would have on how companies are incentivized to contemplate international relocation, funding clinical trials outside of the U.S. and the unique relationship between large and small companies within the life sciences were all conveyed. Finally, the impact that the failure to resolve Section 174 would have on workforce and employment, the viability of early stage innovation and the fact that this policy change harms innovation beyond solely the life sciences were conveyed — along with the urgency of resolving this problem this year.

BioNJ looks forward to continuing to collaborate with our partner organizations across the country to ensure that federal policymakers are aware of this opportunity to address current challenges that the life sciences sector in the United States face via H.R.2673, as well as opportunities to accelerate innovation to ensure that the United States continues to be the global leader in bringing new treatments and cures to Patients worldwide.

Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced S.3131, the Senate companion to the ORPHAN Cures Act that was introduced in the House last month. This legislation would modify provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to expand the exemptions of therapeutics for orphan and rare diseases from the pricing provisions of the IRA in instances where more than one indication is approved.

BioNJ will continue to advocate for the passage and signing of this legislation to ensure that access to novel therapeutics for rare diseases is not inhibited by the pricing provisions of the IRA.

On Monday, October 30, President Biden signed a broad executive order focused on the uses of artificial intelligence (AI), including new safety and security standards, new consumer and privacy protections, incorporating equity and civil rights standards, worker protections and eased barriers to immigration for highly-skilled workers. Among the order’s provisions is to advance the responsible use of AI in the development of “affordable and life-saving drugs.” The Department of Health and Human Services will establish a safety program to “receive reports of — and act to remedy — harmful or unsafe healthcare practices involving AI.”

BioNJ will review the contents of the executive order and highlight particularly relevant provisions.

To read a fact sheet from the White House on the executive order, click here.

For remarks from President Biden on the executive order, click here.

On Monday, October 30, the New Jersey Globe reported that First Lady Tammy Murphy is expected to file with the Federal Election Commission to raise funds and explore possible candidacy for the seat currently occupied by Senator Bob Menendez. She would join three-term congressman, Andy Kim (D, NJ-3), who announced his intention to run several weeks ago.

To read the Globe’s coverage, click here.

The Partnership for the U.S. Life Science Ecosystem’s (PULSE) blog post explains the unique role that mergers and acquisitions plays in the life sciences. The post explores the unique risks associated with upfront costs associated with research & development, the sector’s regulatory landscape, and dependence on outside investments that characterize innovation in the life sciences.

To read PULSE’s blog post, 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 2023. 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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