Protect North Carolina's Innovation Economy
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More than 600 life sciences companies call North Carolina home. They develop lifesaving treatments, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and more to help people across the country. North Carolina is one of 15 states that generates between $5 billion and $15 billion in pharmaceutical research and development per year.
Our local biotech industry continues to pursue scientific research and development to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and future health crises. However, many policymakers are considering policies that will weaken the ability of the industry to deliver future innovations to North Carolina patients.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has already issued a temporary intellectual property (IP) waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, called the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver, in the name of increasing access to vaccines and treatments worldwide. Now, the WTO is considering extending the waiver to remove IP rights for additional therapeutics and diagnostics--like those created here in North Carolina. In addition, many federal lawmakers are considering weakening intellectual property protections in a misguided effort to lower the sticker price of certain medications.
Our state's life sciences and biotechnology industries depend on strong intellectual property (IP) protections to develop and deliver treatments for patients. Further weakening IP rights endangers any future investment in innovative research and development for COVID-19, as well as all health conditions and diseases.
Help us protect North Carolina patients, local biotechnology jobs, and our innovation economy.
Join us today and send an email to your lawmakers urging them to reject policies that threaten the development of new lifesaving therapies and North Carolina life sciences jobs.
Dear Representative:
As a North Carolina resident, I urge you to reject policies that will negatively affect North Carolina's ability to develop, test, and provide lifesaving treatments and cures to patients. Supporting policies that will weaken intellectual property (IP) protections on biopharmaceutical innovations, such as the World Trade Organization's proposal to extend the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver on COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics or utilizing march-in rights to lower drug prices, will jeopardize North Carolina's robust innovation ecosystem.
North Carolina is a longtime leader in innovation, with numerous life sciences manufacturing companies actively considering North Carolina for growth, potentially adding another $3.5 billion in investment and 5,500 new jobs in the state. North Carolina is one of 15 states that generates between $5 billion and $15 billion in pharmaceutical research and development per year. But this growth and innovation won't be possible with policies in place that weaken IP protections.
Please do not support efforts to weaken IP protections, such as the TRIPS waiver extension or march-in rights, which will negatively impact the ability of the North Carolina's life sciences industry to deliver lifesaving innovations to patients.
Thank you,
[your name]
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