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What’s Inside: Sustainability Solutions in Biotech that Protect Our Planet; UC San Diego and Thermo Fisher Scientific Partner to Drive Scientific Discovery; Senate Confirms Kathi Vidal as USPTO Director; and more.
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We’re championing the progress made by California’s life science community and want to hear about your company’s latest scientific breakthrough, investment milestone, or commitment to creating positive change for our industry. Submit your story here for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue. |
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What’s Happening at Biocom California
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Investing in Mother Earth
From using more sustainable methods to produce life-saving medicines to replacing animal products with cell-cultivated meat to creating eco-friendly alternatives for crop pesticides, our member companies are committed to prioritizing sustainability for a cleaner, greener future. This Earth Day, we’re proud to celebrate how solutions from the life science industry are protecting the planet and invite you to join us on April 20 for our 5th Annual Earth Day Sustainability Reception. Hear from experts at Genomatica, My Green Lab, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Veolia on how companies can implement sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact.
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The Latest in Sustainable Technology
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A New Kind of Nylon
Biofuels and batteries won’t be the only sustainable materials going into cars—soon you can add nylon to the list. Genomatica, a San Diego-based company that makes alternatives to standard chemicals from bio-based materials, announced a partnership with Asahi Kasei in Japan to commercially produce renewably sourced nylon that can be used for automotive parts and electronics, and even to make yarn to construct airbags. The partnership will produce the first-to-market sustainable version of nylon 6,6, which is traditionally made from fossil fuels. Genomatica achieved a major milestone two years ago when it developed a form of hexamethylenediamine,
a key component in producing nylon, from plant and renewable materials instead of crude oil.
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Partnering on Eco-Friendlier Pesticides
Berkeley Lights, a Bay Area startup that is an innovator in digital cell biology platforms and software which allow scientists to screen thousands of cells at once, is partnering with Vestaron to advance its work in developing peptide-based pesticides for agriculture. Berkeley Lights’ screening service will help Vestaron identify new active ingredients (AIs) that can be used to create additional treatments for crops that are not toxic to the environment.
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Beauty and the Biotech
The movement to go green has extended to the beauty and cosmetics space, and Bay Area company Amyris was recently profiled in ELLE about the history of its successful skincare line, Biossance. The biotech company initially produced a malaria treatment from fermented sugarcane, then discovered the same fermentation process could also be used to make a plant-based version of squalane, an ingredient traditionally derived from shark liver that was used in skin moisturizers. The company says its innovation has saved 2 million sharks from being unsustainably harvested.
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Industry Intelligence & Member Moments
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New US Patent Office Director
On April 5, the Senate confirmed Kathi Vidal as the next USPTO director. Vidal was first nominated in October 2021 and the position had been vacant for over a year. She previously served as managing partner of Winston & Strawn’s Silicon Valley Office. We expect her to engage on the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), Section 101, and continue her work in diversity and inclusion by increasing the representation of women and minorities in the IP community.
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Healthcare Proposal Could Limit Patient Access
As part of his $286.4B budget, Governor Newsom and several key legislators propose to establish an Office of Health Care Affordability with the power to monitor healthcare spending and order hospitals, doctors’ offices, and insurance companies to keep prices for certain services low. At least four other states including Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Oregon have similar offices, but none is as comprehensive as the one proposed in California. The proposal could become law this year and Biocom California has expressed concerns and requested amendments to ensure patients have access to high-quality and affordable healthcare.
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Biocom California
For over 25 years, Biocom California has helped move the life science industry forward with transformative resources that enable companies to make meaningful connections. With a membership base of over {{{dynamic_content_1600}}} companies, we connect our members to each other so they can collaborate and work stronger and smarter together. We connect organizations to capital investment and purchasing solutions so they can grow faster and work more efficiently. We’re their link to advocacy that fights for innovation and we provide an environment where their business and talent can thrive. Biocom California is how the life science industry gets connected.
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