The Biden administration has released an exceedingly brief budget framework for fiscal year 2022 that includes $6.5 billion for an advanced research program at the NIH, which mimics a similar program at the Department of Defense (DoD). Beyond that, there is a clear indication that the CDC would see an uptick in monies, but the proposal offers no numbers for the FDA budget, making this one of the skinnier budget proposals to come out of the White House in recent memory.
Two subcommittees of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee have moved their respective appropriations proposals for the FDA and the NIH, restarting a process that has worked smoothly over the past couple of years. Still, Republicans in both committees objected to the use of emergency funding mechanisms in lieu of more routine appropriations.
The March 4 congressional hearing on the budget for the NIH was peppered with questions about the COVID-19 outbreak, although the general sentiment is that the agency will receive yet another boost in appropriations in fiscal 2021.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar was peppered with questions about the Trump administration’s budget proposal for fiscal 2021 during a Feb. 13 Senate hearing. However, another theme that resonated during the hearing was Senate legislation addressing drug prices. Azar addressed the issue of price caps, while noting that the bill “leaves plenty of room” for both ample profit margins and innovation in drug development.
In a budget proposal sure to spark opposition, the Trump administration has proposed to provide the National Institutes of Health with only $38 billion in fiscal 2021, several billion dollars short of the agency’s funding for the current fiscal year. The proposal also calls for funding of less than $95 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, a 10% reduction in funding that includes an adjustment for drug pricing proposals and a $5 million cut to FDA monies for the 21st Century Cures Act.
PERTH, Australia – Despite a Senate inquiry recommendation to hold off on introducing cuts to Australia’s Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI), a bill that recommends cuts was introduced in Parliament, sending shudders through the biotech industry. “Ausbiotech is deeply concerned that the RDTI Bill has been reintroduced, despite the Senate Committee’s recommendations to defer consideration of the bill until further examination and analysis of the impact is undertaken,” said Ausbiotech CEO Lorraine Chiroiu.
PERTH, Australia – Despite a Senate inquiry recommendation to hold off on introducing cuts to Australia’s Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI), a bill that recommends cuts was introduced in Parliament, sending shudders through the biotech industry.
