Weekly Newsletter
April 2nd, 2025
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SOCALBIO Networking Mixer in Pasadena
Thursday, April 17 · 4 - 7 pm PST
@ Pasadena Bio Collaborative
Join us for an evening of networking! Connect with professionals from Pasandena's biotech, medtech, and digital health sectors while enjoying great food and drinks.
The Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator is a non-profit organization created to support the growing number of life science start-ups in the Pasadena area.
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SOCALBIO Webinar: R&D Tax Credits – Alive and Well in 2025
Tuesday, May 13 · 1 - 2 pm PDT
Virtual
Join SoCalBio and CBIZ Advisors, LLC for an insightful look into R&D tax credits. We will explore the qualifications for R&D projects, provide an understanding of Section 174 and the capitalization of R&D deductions, and introduce the new Form 6765 for the 2024 tax year.
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Strategic Compensation for Life Science: Aligning pay, performance & growth
Tuesday, May 20 · 1 - 2pm PDT
Virtual
Join LTC Performance by SoCalBio and IMA Financial Group for a webinar on navigating executive compensation challenges while balancing resources and growth. This session covers best practices for structuring compensation, including bonuses and performance incentives, aligning with your company’s vision. Gain strategies to attract and retain top talent in today’s market!
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HHS layoffs characterized by confusion, errors | MedTechDive
The sweeping workforce reduction that began Tuesday was made worse by mistakes and poor communication, including directions for some CMS employees to contact a director who died last year.
Europe’s pharma industry braces for tariffs as carve-out hopes fade | CNBC
Europe’s pharmaceutical sector is bracing for the potential impact of U.S. tariffs as hopes of an industry-wide exemption by President Donald Trump fade.
AstraZeneca bets on Asia: a surge of deals in March amid fraud probe | LABiotech
British pharma giant AstraZeneca, known for its cancer therapies Lynparza and Enhertu, among others, has signed deals on a number of research and development (R&D) projects across the globe. This past month, it has vowed to spend over $10 billion in Asia, particularly in China, to build Beijing into an R&D hub.
Atsena raises $150M for ocular gene therapies with Bain, Sofinnova in tow | Fierce Biotech
Atsena Therapeutics has raised $150 million in an oversubscribed series C financing, with hopes that the funds can carry the biotech’s gene therapy designed to reverse or prevent blindness through a potential market approval.
A biotech M&A revival is in the pipeline | Financial Times
Drug developers have been hit by a succession of maladies. Higher interest rates have cut the value of their future breakthroughs. Sector M&A has swooned.
RNA editing biotech Airna adds $155M in funding | BioPharmaDive
Airna will use the Series B round to launch a Phase 1/2 trial of its lead program for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a disease targeted by several drugmakers.
Biotech’s ‘Worst Fear’ Comes True as FDA’s Marks Departs, Sending Shares Tumbling | BioSpace
Already reeling from years of market chaos, the announced departure of CBER chief Peter Marks sent a ripple across biopharma markets.
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Applications Now Open for the 2025 SoCalBio Annual Investor Conference!
Showcase your company to a network of angel investors, venture capitalists, and industry leaders at the 2025 SoCalBio Annual Investor Conference. In 2024, we had over 20 investors and over 200 one-on-one meetings scheduled.
Applicants will undergo a screening process with our Innovation Catalysts Committee. Selected companies will receive complimentary admission to the conference to present, as well as early registration for 1:1 networking meetings with investors.
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Join us in supporting the next generation of innovators.
The SoCalBio STEM College Bound Support Initiative (CBSI) team is excited to announce that applications for our 2025 program are now open. For over 20 years, SoCalBio's CBSI initiative has supported high school STEM education statewide by providing financial awards based on scientific proposals submitted to the California Science Fair.
By donating to our program, you can help fund awards, plaques, and certificates for the student winners and runners-up and their high schools. Your generous support will enable us to assist even more students in pursuing STEM education.
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BIO statement on the resignation of Dr. Peter Marks from the FDA
John F. Crowley, BIO President & CEO, released a statement on the resignation of Dr. Peter Marks from the FDA:
“Under the extraordinary leadership of Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA shepherded in a new era of scientific breakthroughs—from new vaccines to curative cell and gene therapies that have strengthened and saved the lives of millions of patients and families,” according to Crowley.
Read the full statement.
Tariffs threaten innovation, access to cures, say BIO members
U.S. tariffs on imports could increase the cost of biotech operations, threatening innovation that helps patients, according to a survey of some BIO members.
Why it matters: Nearly 90% of U.S. biotech companies rely on imported components for at least half of their FDA-approved products, and they say tariffs would hurt business. President Trump said he will unveil a tariff plan Wednesday.
The survey finds tariffs would:
- Reduce access to affordable medicines: 94% of biotech firms anticipate surging manufacturing costs from tariffs on the EU. Tariffs on Canada and China would have a similar impact. The U.S. currently lacks adequate domestic manufacturing capacity.
- Stall medical innovation: Proposed tariffs on the EU would force 50% of companies to find new research and manufacturing partners, complicating regulatory filings and jeopardizing innovation.
- Create red tape: Faced with tariffs, 80% of biotech firms report needing at least 12 months to find alternative suppliers, with 44% needing more than two years.
- Complicate efforts to obtain investment: “More than 50% of biotech firms predict ‘increased difficulty’ in funding and conducting research if EU tariffs are enacted.”
BIO’s view: “This survey demonstrates the far-reaching and potentially damaging impacts of the proposed tariffs on our biotechnology industry,” says BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley. “We fully support strong policies and programs that incentivize the manufacture of medicines here in America,” he adds, promoting “reonshoring,” but warning: “It will take years, though, for this shift and we need to be mindful of the negative consequences of these proposed tariffs,”
Read more on Bio.News.
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Special Saving on Lab Supplies
Become a member of SoCalBio and enjoy fantastic savings on lab supplies from Avantor's extensive catalog through SoCalBio's Group Purchasing.
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| SoCalBio's Partner Events | | |
11th Annual
American Biomanufacturing Summit
April 15-16, 2025 - San Francisco, CA
The American Biomanufacturing Summit is taking place April 15-16, 2025, in San Francisco, CA. The summit brings together over 200 biopharma and biotech executive leaders for 2 days of sessions, workshops, and networking.
With sessions led by top biotech executives, the agenda is designed to discuss current trends, strategic insights, and best practices in key topics like manufacturing, cell and gene therapy, capacity management, quality assurance, quality control, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, supply chain and logistics. Network with your fellow biopharma leaders as we explore strategies to maximize efficiency while remaining compliant within the biomanufacturing space.
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MDMA 2025 Annual Meeting
April 30-May 2nd, 2025 - Washington, DC
We are proud to partner with Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) to support their upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting being held April 30-May 2nd in Washington, DC. SoCalBio members receive a discount on registration. Attendees at this year's conference will hear from Congressional, Federal Agency and industry leaders on current and upcoming issues impacting our industry. Attendees also have an opportunity to visit Capitol Hill and meet with our Congressional delegation during MDMA's popular Congressional Fly-In.
Email membership@socalbio.org to request a discount code.
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LABEST Week 2025
UCLA Luskin Conference Center
Monday, May 19, 2025 to Thursday, May 22 2025
The UCLA Technology Development Group (UCLA TDG) is taking innovation to the next level by merging two premier events—the UCLA MedTech Conference and the LA Bioscience Ecosystem Summit (LABEST)—under the unified banner of LABEST Week. This strategic integration aims to foster deeper collaboration across biotech, MedTech, therapeutics, AI, andmore, engaging key stakeholders in the Los Angeles ecosystem.
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Local Highlights
Do you have a recent scientific breakthrough, investment milestone, or commitment you would like to share? We are always looking to share our member's stories Submit your stories to scbc@socalbio.org
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