The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held an Oct. 29 hearing “The Future of Biotech: Maintaining U.S. Competitiveness and Delivering Lifesaving Cures to Patients.” Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.), opened the hearing by highlighting the transformative impact of American medical innovation, citing examples ranging from vaccines to gene therapies. “That is the power of innovation,” Cassidy said, emphasizing that the United States must “pick up our game” to remain a global leader in biotechnology. He called for structural reforms to eliminate regulatory barriers, modernize Food and Drug Administration (FDA) processes, and ensure fair international competition to sustain U.S. leadership in lifesaving research.
Lawmakers from both parties underscored the need to strengthen domestic biotechnology innovation amid growing international competition, particularly from China. Several Democrats on the committee raised concerns that proposed funding cuts and workforce reductions at the National Institutes of Health and the FDA could slow clinical trials and drug approvals, while other senators emphasized the economic importance of the life sciences sector and called for policies that sustain U.S. leadership in research and manufacturing. Witnesses urged modernization of FDA processes, highlighting advanced regulatory tools, adaptive trial designs, and stronger coordination between agencies to ensure timely patient access to new therapies.