Governor Newsom Continues to Roll Back COVID-19 Executive Orders
Continuing California’s progress in responsibly winding down executive orders implemented in response to the pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom took action on June 17 to lift additional COVID-19 related executive order provisions, while maintaining California’s nation-leading testing and vaccination programs and protecting hospital capacity—key components of the state’s SMARTER Plan to guide California’s response to the pandemic.
Read the full press release.
Draft Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement
On June 17, the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the support of the U.S., advanced a plan to temporarily waive enforcement of certain provisions of the WTO agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) regarding COVID-19 vaccines at its Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva. This would allow for the broad dissemination of the formulas behind the COVID-19 vaccines. However, this waiver does not apply to IP protections for COVID-19 tests and treatments.
Read the decision.
Democrats Reach Drug Pricing Deal
Senate Democrats have reached a
compromise on drug pricing legislation and released language on July 6 after months of negotiation. Last year, Democrats tried to advance a $2 trillion package known as the Build Back Better Act, which included drug pricing reform, but opposition from several Representatives and Senators stalled the bill. The newly negotiated drug pricing bill is similar to last year’s and likely to be included in a scaled back version of Build Back Better. The plan would impose price controls on certain drugs, inflation rebates, out-of-pocket caps for patients, and a redesign of the Medicare Part D benefit program.
Over the Airwaves
Vital Transformations welcomed our president and CEO Joe Panetta on its
latest podcast episode where he discusses the current industry landscape and why California continues to be at the epicenter of life science innovation. He also discusses the swirling headwinds that biotech companies face from Congress such as recent proposals to alter the criteria of the accelerated approval pathway, CMS’ ability to limit access to treatments by requesting additional evidence, proposed pricing negotiations from Build Back Better, and statements by Sen. Elizabeth Warren to use march-in rights to lower the price of therapies.
South Bay Customers Will Move to Smart Water Meters
Last month the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved installation of
more than 200,000 smart water meters for customers in San Jose. These meters, which can be monitored from a mobile device, record water usage every 15 minutes and alarms can be set to alert users to spikes in water consumption thereby detecting leaks quickly and avoiding wasting water. Marin Water is also in the planning stage of converting meters for its customers.
Los Gatos 2040 General Plan Includes Mixed-Use, High-Density Housing
On June 30, the Los Gatos City Council held a special meeting to
finalize its General Plan, the last step in a nearly three-year process to update the plan. The most significant changes to the plan include a new racial, social, and environmental justice element and land use changes to boost mixed-use development in commercial areas. Focusing on medium-density and mixed-use developments like apartments and street-level restaurants, grocery stores, and shops will help the city meets its goal of building 3,280 new homes through 2040.
San Francisco Plans to End Single-Family Zoning
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on June 28 to
eliminate single-family zoning, planning instead to allow fourplexes in every neighborhood and six-unit homes on all corner lots. The ordinance is the city’s enabling legislation for Senate Bill 9, which requires cities statewide to eliminate most forms of single-family zoning. Some concerns are outstanding regarding conflicting processes for building housing, as well as a rule that any unit built beyond two units will require rent control.
