This week, California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the trade association representing California’s life sciences sector, convened its leadership in Washington, D.C, in order to connect biomedical industry leaders and entrepreneurs with key lawmakers in Congress.

California leads the world in life sciences innovation. Premier research institutions combine with a unique entrepreneurial spirit to develop new technologies and therapies, attract investors and push the state’s economy to greater heights. It’s critical that we protect this pioneering activity to continue bringing hope to patients everywhere. See the highlights from our 2019 California Life Sciences Industry Report.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) Welcomes Proposed 5 Year Delay of Medical Device Tax

CLSA and PwC US today released the 2019 California Life Sciences Industry Report, which shows that California’s life sciences sector directly employed 311,226 people, generated $178 billion in revenue, is projected to attract $7.6 billion in venture capital (VC) and received $3.9 billion in funding from the NIH.

CLSA applauds the U.S. House passage of H.R. 6378, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018, legislation which is critical for safeguarding our nation’s biodefense and pandemic preparedness enterprise.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the trade association representing California’s life sciences industry, and California Life Sciences Institute (CLSI) today announced that Los Altos High School has been selected as the winner of the Giants of Science competition, a program that awards $20,000 to a deserving Bay Area high school to support STEM education and the next generation of life sciences leaders. Moving into its 3rd year, Giants of Science is hosted by KNBR, CLSA and CLSI – the non-profit partner of CLSA which supports workforce development, STEM education and entrepreneurship.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) today urged Governor Jerry Brown to sign Senate Bill 1121, legislation that helps protect clinical trials conducted in California, which are the lifeblood of new and innovative medicines to treat patients in need. SB 1121 was approved by the California Legislature earlier this year and awaits action by Governor Brown, who has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the legislation.

Today, CLSA applauded the U.S. House passage of H.R. 184, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, which permanently repeals the job and innovation hindering 2.3% medical device excise tax levied on medical technology companies.

2018 – 2019 state budget includes $30 million for Precision Medicine Research

Report shows that the life science industry continues to be a strong job engine for California; over 85% of companies surveyed indicate plans to add technical employees in the next year, particularly in R&D, Quality and Regulatory Affairs/Compliance.

Bipartisan Legislators Named 2018 Visionary Award Recipients for Promoting Policies that Advance Biomedical Innovation at CLSA’s Annual Washington, D.C. Program

CLSI today named Presentation High School Sophomore Shloka Janapaty of San Jose, CA as the winner of CLSI’s 2018 Amgen Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge, the premier competition for high school students that recognizes outstanding research and innovation in the biotechnology field.

Legislators Honored with Award for Commitment to Strengthening California Life Sciences Sector at CLSA’s Back to Session Reception in Sacramento

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) applauds the House and Senate passage of legislation that temporarily suspends the ill-conceived 2.3% medical device tax for an additional 2 years, until December 2019.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) welcomes the introduction of H.R. 4617, legislation that places a 5-year freeze on the ill-conceived 2.3% medical device excise tax. Without swift enactment of this measure, the medical device tax would further hamper innovation and investment in medical technology research and development.

For over 7 years, CLSA has advocacted for repeal of IPAB because such blunt cost containment approaches could seriously harm the delicate cycle of biomedical innovation by reducing incentives for investment in new research and product development, and ultimately limit patient access to lifesaving treatments, therapies and technologies.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the statewide public policy and business leadership trade association representing California’s life sciences industry, today announced winners of the 2017 Pantheon DiNA Awards, a distinguished awards program honoring innovation and excellence within California’s life sciences sector.

U.S. Senate Approves Measure to Support Operations at the FDA to Help Propel Bioscience & MedTech Investment and Innovation

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) applauds Governor Jerry Brown, California State Senate and California Assembly leaders for their strong support of life sciences innovation, as demonstrated again in this year’s 2017-2018 budget deal which allocates a $10 million investment in precision medicine research.

CLSA Appoints Jayne McNicol to be Organization’s New Chief Financial Officer and Lead Financial Functions

CLSA President & CEO Sara Radcliffe comments on the President’s proposed $6 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in his budget blueprint.

Legislators Honored for Commitment to Strengthening and Promoting California Life Sciences Sector

CLSA congratulates Congresswoman Mimi Walters on her appointment to the prestigious House Energy and Commerce Committee, which holds broad authority and jurisdiction over matters that are critical to the continued success of California’s life sciences sector.

CLSI announced today that it will celebrate the expansion of its FAST Accelerator program to Davis and Southern California – and its designation as the West Coast accelerator for combating antimicrobial resistance (CLSI CARB-X) – at a special FAST Showcase & Reception on Dec. 13 at the Wilsey Theater and Education Studio of the War Memorial Building in San Francisco.

Bipartisan package of innovative reforms will help propel U.S. life sciences research, investment and innovation.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) and PwC US issue new report indicating that California’s life sciences industry has 1,269 new medicines in the development pipeline, and in 2015, employed more than 287,000 people, brought in $148 billion in total revenue, paid over $116,000 in average wages, attracted $4.4 billion in venture capital investment and more.

Senior Executives from Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS, Leerink Partners and Sanofi Genzyme Join CLSA Board of Directors

Esteemed Innovators to be Honored for California Life Sciences Contributions at 2016 Pantheon DiNA Award Program in San Francisco

California Life Sciences Association Partners with LA BioMed and Lab Launch to Grow World-Class Life Sciences Innovation Hub in Los Angeles; Opens Los Angeles Office

California Life Sciences Institute (CLSI) today announced the appointment of Heather Shane to build and lead the CLSI CARB-X accelerator, which will provide non-dilutive funding, business support and subject matter expertise to companies with innovative antibiotic product candidates.

California Life Sciences Association Announces Expansion of Board of Directors, with Senior executives from Allergan and Boehringer Ingelheim Fremont Inc. joining CLSA’s board.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the statewide public policy organization representing over 750 of California’s leading life sciences innovators, today issued the following statement regarding Senate Bill (SB) 1010, which passed by the California Assembly Health Committee yesterday. SB 1010 prioritizes paperwork, red tape and bureaucracy over research, and instead of improving patient access and affordability, places patients in California at risk. This statement can be attributed to Sara Radcliffe, President & CEO, California Life Sciences Association (CLSA).

California Life Sciences Association Expands Advocacy Team. Michael Bolden joins CLSA as Sacramento-Based Sr. Director of State Gov’t Relations. Jenny Carey, Reese Isbell and Will Zasadny promoted.

From our non-profit partner, CLSI’s latest report demonstrates that Bay Area life science startups are making significant contributions to local and state economy with public and private funding, job creation, and innovative discoveries. Almost half of surveyed companies have a woman in the C-suite.

AB 2115 would ensure patients losing health coverage are notified about prescription-drug discount plans

Bridget Hood, a lupus patient and Lupus L.A. board member, pens an op-ed in the O.C. Register on the need to for policymakers to protect medical innovation, and not make any kind of policy decisions that would intentionally or unintentionally slow that progress down.

SB 1010 would prioritize paperwork and bureaucracy over research and development, inhibit medical progress and, instead of improving patient access and affordability, place patients in California at the end of the line.

CLSA’s own Eve Bukowski, our VP of State Government Relations and a cancer fighter pens a letter to the editor of CALMatters, which pushes back on a recent article in CALMatters (“California Searches for Prescription to Treat Rising Drug Costs,” April 10) that suggests the state simply could not afford to treat poor patients who need life-saving medicines to treat their serious or even life-threatening illness.

On April 13, California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), the statewide public policy organization representing over 750 of California’s leading life science innovators, applauded Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) for introducing AB 2115, a measure which would help ensure patients in California receive important information about the availability of essential medicines.

CLSA & BCG release an infographic report, “Tracking FDA Drug Review Performance,” which shows that the FDA has accelerated review times, descending from an average of 21 months in 2009 to 10 months in 2015.

On Feb. 29 at the State Capitol, the California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) participated in an event recognizing Feb. 29 as Rare Disease Day in California as acknowledged in Senate Concurrent Resolution 108, authored by Senator Bill Monning (D – Carmel) and co-authored by Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian (R – San Luis Obispo).

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) welcomes to its board of directors two new members: Robert Ford, Executive Vice President, Medical Devices, Abbott and Mark Ginestro, Principal, Healthcare and Life Sciences, KPMG LLP.

CLSA Kick-Starts New Year with Hire of Kelly Bryant to oversee membership, strategic alliance, and membership value.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) applauds Governor Jerry Brown and his Administration for their unwavering support of life sciences innovation, as demonstrated again in this year’s budget which calls for a $10 million investment in precision medicine research.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA), today announced that its board of directors appointed three new members: William Annett, Chief Executive Officer, OncoCyte; Perry Nisen, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Donald Bren Chief Executive Chair, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute; and James Sabry, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Genentech Partnering.

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) to Recognize California’s Booming Life Sciences Industry and Leading Innovators Nov. 17 in San Francisco

New California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report shows progress made, but room for improvement remains in FDA medical device review times.

Sara Radcliffe, President & CEO of CLSA, has been chosen to participate on 2015’s BIO Investor Forum Advisory Committee.

On July 10, the House overwhelmingly approved the 21st Cures Act, a comprehensive legislative package to accelerate the pace of biomedical research and development in the U.S. CLSA President & CEO Sara Radcliffe comments on the passage of this landmark legislation.

CLSI launched today to focus on fostering the innovation that has made California home to the world’s most prominent life sciences ecosystem. The Institute was previously known as the BayBio Institute, which was established in 1990. Today, CLSI works to ensure that the economic and intellectual power of California’s life sciences sector and its employees remains strong.

The 21st Century Cures Act is not only visionary, but critical to ensuring that California and our nation remains the worldwide leader in life sciences research, investment and innovation.

CLSA is now the largest state and regional life sciences advocacy group in the country, with more than 750 members.

AB 463 was not brought up for a vote in the California State Assembly Committee on Health. Bill exculsively targeted a sector providing life saving medicines, and failed to recognize the clinical and economic value to patients and the healthcare system provided by these life saving medications.

CHI Statement on 21st Century Cures initiative discussion draft. The legislation calls for input to spur biomedical innovation through increased efficiency and patient perspectives

Draft legislation boosts biomedical research funding, modernizes life sciences innovation ecosystem

Draft legislation boosts biomedical research funding, modernizes life sciences innovation ecosystem

Nearly one in five new FDA approvals and more than one in four IPOs in 2014 came from Bay Area companies. BayBio will celebrate this record of success at its 11th annual BayBio Pantheon DiNA Awards ceremony on December 11, 2014.

Today the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the initial round of grants for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, an undertaking that aims to develop and revolutionize new methods of understanding the complexities and neuro circuit functions of the human brain. This first round of grants totaling $46 million in funding for fiscal year 2014 was allocated to more than 100 investigators in 15 states and several countries. California-based academic and private research institutions were awarded 20 of the total 58 grants, supported through this round of funding.

California’s life science cluster is a major economic engine for the state, creating $258 billion in economic activity and over one million jobs that pay $76 billion in salaries, wages and benefits and driving the need for integrated talent.

BayBio named Henry M. Gunn High School senior Emily Wang of Palo Alto as the winner of the 2014 Amgen Bay Area BioGENEius Challenge, the premier competition for high school students that recognizes outstanding research in biotechnology. As the Amgen Bay Area BioGENEius finalist, Wang will gain insider access to the biotechnology industry by attending the 2014 BIO International Convention in San Diego, the industry’s trade conference, where leading companies, scientists and innovators will offer her invaluable advice and first-hand experience on the limitless possibilities within one of the world’s most innovative industries.

Governor Jerry Brown delivered his annual State of the State address in Sacramento and included top mention of the biomedical community in the state. CHI-California Healthcare Institute has worked closely with the Governor and his Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to prioritize the needs of the ever-expanding life sciences ecosystem in California.

California Healthcare Institute (CHI) is celebrating its 20th anniversary at its Annual Meeting at Genentech. Industry thought leaders will participate on panels discussing FDA regulatory policies, nurturing innovation in the face of sequestration and lack of venture capital (VC) investment, as well as highlight the patient experience. CHI and PwC will also release its annual 2014 California Biomedical Industry Report with enhanced new data on employment, revenue, VC funding and impact in the state.

Myelin Repair Foundation President and CEO Scott Johnson will receive the 2013 BayBio Pantheon DiNA Biotechnology Philanthropist Award at the 10th Annual BayBio Pantheon Ceremony on December 5th.

On the heels of strong bi-partisan support in the Senate, SB 598, authored by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), was approved today by the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on a 12-0 vote. The bill now moves to the Assembly Health Committee.

Today, legislation to regulate the dispensing of biosimilars, known as SB 598 and authored by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), passed the California State Senate overwhelmingly, with 29 voting in favor, four voting against and six abstaining. As the statewide public policy association representing California’s innovative life sciences sector including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics companies, venture capital firms, research universities and institutes and its 275,000 workers, CHI strongly supports this legislation and applauds Sen. Hill for his leadership and efforts in championing the passage of SB 598.

Today at the State Capitol, Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), in partnership with the California Healthcare Institute (CHI), presented a House resolution recognizing Feb. 28, 2013 as Rare Disease Day.