California Life Sciences Association Statement on President’s 2018 Budget Request

Business Wire

SAN FRANCISCO & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the premier public policy advocacy and business leadership trade association representing California’s life sciences industry, today issued the following statement in response to the President’s FY 2018 budget request. This statement can be attributed to Sara Radcliffe, President & Chief Executive Officer, CLSA:

“While we are still in the process of studying the details of the President’s FY 2018 budget request, California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is pleased to see that the Administration has prioritized repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), a controversial advisory board enacted as part of the ACA, which could harm biomedical innovation by reducing incentives for investment in new research and product development. We welcome the Administration’s leadership on the issue. We are also pleased to see to see the Administration intends to clarify ‘the treatment of value-based purchasing [VBP] arrangements,’ as this is a step in the right direction in finding practical solutions to reducing healthcare costs.

“We are deeply concerned with the Administration’s requests related to public health and research priorities, including funding for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The President’s request calls for nearly 20 percent ($6 billion) cut in funding to NIH, and stands in stark contrast to the bipartisan, bicameral commitment made via enactment of the 21^st Century Cures Act last year, which bolstered the nation’s commitment to invest in biomedical research and innovation. Further, the Administration’s proposal to cut taxpayer resources for FDA and increase industry-paid user fees is concerning. User fees are expressly intended to supplement – not supplant – congressional appropriations. Further, Congress is nearing the end of its process to ratify an agreement reached by FDA and industry over a two-years-long negotiation to renew the user fee programs, and any delay would jeopardize the agency’s ability to conduct its important public health responsibilities.

“CLSA and our broad membership will continue to work with the California congressional delegation to guard against any NIH cuts that could put lifesaving cures and R&D at risk, and ensure the House and Senate can continue their work to swiftly renew the FDA user fee programs, without renegotiating the technical agreements.”

To learn more about California’s treasured life sciences industry, visit www.CALifeSciencesIndustry.com.

About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the state’s largest and most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. With offices in Sacramento, San Diego, South San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington DC, CLSA works closely with industry, government, academia and others to shape public policy, improve access to innovative technologies and grow California’s life sciences economy. CLSA serves biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers throughout the Golden State. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.