MassBio’s dynamic Policy and Government Affairs team uses its years of professional expertise to promote policies that foster a robust biotechnology ecosystem within the Commonwealth. Leveraging their experience and networks, the team articulates the needs and priorities of small and emerging biotech companies, advocating for policies that support innovation, investment, and, above all, patient access to cutting-edge therapies.
Under the leadership of CEO and President Kendalle Burlin O’Connell and Head of Government Affairs Ed Coppinger and through strategic collaboration with lawmakers and industry leaders, the team employs a multifaceted approach to educate, advocate, and influence policy decisions at both the federal and state levels. This approach involves staying abreast of legislative and regulatory developments impacting the biopharma industry, conducting comprehensive member engagement to inform policy positions, and participating in proactive outreach to key stakeholders.
By fostering dialogue, cultivating partnerships, and providing valuable insights, MassBio’s policy team works tirelessly to amplify member voices and partner with government to lengthen Massachusetts’ lead in the life sciences and create an environment conducive to the continued growth of the biotechnology sector in Massachusetts and beyond.
Meet the Team: Ed Coppinger | Susan Martin | Vasundhra Sangar
Legislative Priorities
MassBio’s approach to legislative advocacy is grounded in the organization’s two interconnected missions: safeguarding patient access to current and forthcoming therapies and cultivating an environment where companies advancing the life sciences can flourish. Our state and federal policy priorities are thoughtfully crafted in consultation with our member companies, through MassBio’s Policy Working Group, and industry stakeholders, ensuring alignment on industry needs, perspectives, and strategies. Executed by MassBio’s policy and government affairs team, this collaborative process enables us to effectively educate, advocate, and shape policies that support innovation and maintain Massachusetts’ position as a global leader in the life sciences.
State Priorities
As the global epicenter of life sciences innovation and a national pioneer in healthcare access policy, Massachusetts stands at the forefront of shaping the future of high-quality healthcare and breakthrough therapies. It’s imperative that we actively engage and inform our state legislators on the current needs and capabilities of Massachusetts’ life sciences ecosystem, including potential threats to continued innovation and enhanced patient access to therapies, as they navigate the legislative priorities of the entire state. MassBio’s statewide advocacy efforts center on several issues, including shielding members’ proprietary information from legislative overreach or unfair pricing controls; championing patient access to prescription drug coupons and advocating for the expansion of co-pay assistance programs; and addressing tangential policy priorities our members need to continue to succeed in Massachusetts: transportation and housing reform, workforce development initiatives, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the life sciences sector. Through proactive engagement and advocacy, MassBio works to drive meaningful conversations to sustain Massachusetts’ leadership in the biotechnology landscape while fostering a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
Federal Priorities
MassBio actively cultivates enduring partnerships with lawmakers and regulators in Washington, DC to foster a regulatory and legislative landscape conducive to the continued success of the life sciences ecosystem in Massachusetts. Advocating tirelessly for policies and initiatives that propel the industry forward, our federal advocacy spans a diverse array of critical issues, including a balanced reimbursement and pricing landscape, value-based payment models, intellectual property protections, tax reform measures, sensible immigration policies, increased funding for the National Institutes of Health, and a framework that facilitates our two main pillars of innovation and patient access. Through proactive engagement, MassBio strives to shape policies that empower the life sciences sector to transform, grow, and create a lasting positive impact on local economies and patient lives.
Inflation Reduction Act:
Enacted into law by President Biden in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) empowers the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to engage in direct negotiations with participating drug manufacturers, targeting single-source drugs devoid of generic or biosimilar competition. Although seeking to curb inflationary pressures and ensure equitable access to medications, the IRA threatens to stifle investment and invention and can disrupt the industry’s mission of bringing life-saving therapies to patients by imposing arbitrary price controls and undermining dynamics essential for sustaining the tireless research and development efforts that make Massachusetts the worldwide leader in biotechnology innovation.
340B:
“The federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, established by Congress in 1992, requires drug manufacturers to provide discounted medications to eligible healthcare facilities, including certain hospitals and clinics that primarily serve underserved or vulnerable populations. The program was designed to expand access to affordable medications for patients in need. However, the program has faced scrutiny over the years, with concerns raised about its expansion beyond its original intent, lack of transparency and accountability, and potential for abuse. The lack of transparency and oversight within the 340B program enables abuse and exploitation by participating entities including pharmacy benefits managers and retail pharmacies, leading to potential misdirection of discounted drugs. The program has ballooned well beyond its original scope of providing discounted drugs to in-house hospital pharmacies as providers increasingly contract with chain and retail pharmacies across the country to dispense 340B drugs – without guaranteeing the discounted drug will ultimately reach a patient in need.
R&D Tax Amortization:
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) modified the US tax code, so starting in 2022, businesses could no longer deduct research and experimentation expenses in the same taxable year. Currently, businesses must amortize such deductions over five years for domestic expenditures or over 15 years for foreign expenditures. This mandatory amortization is already diverting much-needed funds away from small R&D intensive companies, potentially jeopardizing the development of future treatments and negatively impacting local economies. The CSBA urges Congress to pass H.R. 1990 to immediately restore the timely expensing of R&D expenditures to ensure the development of future treatments and cures. Read the CSBA letter with MassBio as a signatory.
Comment Letters:
Local Priorities
MassBio monitors local priorities in Cambridge and Boston, as well as other communities with emerging life sciences clusters, recognizing their significance in shaping the state’s broader biotechnology ecosystem, to address key issues such as infrastructure development, transportation, and workforce talent retention. In Cambridge, home to a thriving biotech hub, MassBio advocates for policies that support the expansion of laboratory space, promote sustainable development, and enhance access to public transportation. Similarly, in Boston and municipalities across the state, MassBio collaborates with local authorities to address challenges to streamline regulatory processes for biotech startups and foster a vibrant innovation ecosystem. By aligning with local priorities, MassBio endeavors to create a holistic environment encouraging the growth and success of the biotechnology industry, benefiting both the local communities in which it operates and the broader Massachusetts economy.
Policy Working Group
MassBio’s Policy Working Group is a powerhouse group of government affairs officials and leadership from key member companies who collectively drives MassBio’s state and federal advocacy efforts. The PWG convenes regularly to craft and finetune MassBio’s strategic blueprint in DC and on Beacon Hill as issues progress through various legislative committees and chambers. Membership in the PWG is by invitation-only and is reserved for policy professionals from biotech and pharma companies. To learn more, please contact Vasundhra Sangar, MassBio’s Senior Director of Policy.
Life Sciences Caucus
The Massachusetts Legislative Life Sciences Caucus is an impassioned group of state legislators invested in the mechanics of the life sciences industry in Massachusetts. Driven by a shared commitment to the industry’s advancement, Caucus members engage with educational materials, in-person company site visits, curated panel discussions on cutting-edge topics, and more to inspire and spark dialogue. MassBio serves as a Caucus convener, along with our partners at the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, to share insights and resources with Caucus members. Through this collaborative energy, MassBio helps shape the Caucus’s agenda for impactful initiatives and educational opportunities. To learn more, please contact Susan Martin, MassBio’s Senior Director of Government Affairs.
Partnering with Government
At the 2024 State of Possible Conference, Governor Maura Healey touted the focus and intentional investment Massachusetts used to pursue the life sciences industry before eventually leading the pack, with 18 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies now calling the state home.
Get the Latest Updates Impacting Our Industry
Stay informed on an array of state and federal policy proposals that directly impact our industry, members, and patients. Subscribe to our weekly Insider newsletter today for access to current industry news and developments.
