Press

• Members of the European Parliament have agreed with the proposal to have two different categories and two sets of rules for plants derived from the use of NGTs.
• The total ban on patents for all plants obtained through the use of NGTs, claiming to avoid "legal uncertainties, higher costs, and new dependencies for farmers and breeders," will discourage agricultural innovation and genetic editing techniques in Europe.
• The Parliament is expected to adopt its mandate during the plenary session from February 5 to 8, 2024, after which it will be ready to start negotiations with EU member states.

• The 2024 program application will open on January 25th and close on February 21st.
• The 2024 edition format includes a 40-hour service package for three companies that includes an initial meeting, background analysis, tailored orientation session for market access and pricing, and gap analysis.

• This is evident in the study conducted by EuropaBio, titled "Impact of the General Pharmaceutical Legislation of the European Union on the Innovation Ecosystem and Biotechnological Companies in Europe."
• The study highlights that the European Commission's proposal sends a concerning message to investors and innovative companies: the European Union has sidelined innovation in the field of health.
• The only way for the European Union to meet the current needs of patients, the economy, and its long-term resilience is to prioritize high levels of innovation in biotechnology.

• The technical meeting and collaborative forum have been held under the title "Applications of non-viral vectors in gene editing and therapy: Challenges for academia and industry."
• More than 30 biotechnological companies in our country have the capabilities for the complete development of advanced therapies, from the initial R&D phases to more advanced processes such as manufacturing, transfer, and distribution.
• The commitment to advanced therapies will not only address diseases but also increase Europe's competitiveness and ensure affordable access to innovative medicines.

• In the upcoming month of November, the Spanish Association of Biocompanies (AseBio) will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
• The milestone will shape AseBio's work throughout 2024 through various actions and activities aimed at highlighting its transformative role in biotechnology in Spain.
• AseBio has been a key player in the journey taken over these 25 years by biotechnology in Spain, positioning itself as a strategic agent in the face of challenges and future prospects.

• In the General Assembly of AseBio, new vice-presidents have also been elected: Carlos Buesa, CEO of Oryzon (First Vice-presidency); Cristina Nadal, Policy Executive Director of MSD Spain (Second Vice-presidency); and Adriana Casillas, CEO and co-founder of Tebrio (Third Vice-presidency).
• The General Assembly of AseBio has also chosen eight board members.
• "It is an honor to be part of the AseBio presidency alongside three individuals and companies that are leaders in our Spanish biotechnological sector and globally," states the new president of AseBio.

• The list, comprised of 268 drugs, is an important tool to support the EU's efforts to ensure the security of the supply chain and prevent shortages of critical medications.
• Over the last 40 years, biotechnology has shaped the landscape of medicine, as evidenced by the fact that 69% of drugs in development are a result of biotechnological advancements.
• Biotechnology plays a key role in achieving what the European Commission has termed the "European Health Union," ensuring patients' access to medications.

The purpose behind our request for the creation of the High Commissioner is to strengthen Spain's commitment to deep technologies at a critical moment for Europe's strategic autonomy.

• The biotech sector provides cross-cutting solutions ranging from the diagnosis, research, and treatment of infectious diseases to the development of innovative preventive and therapeutic strategies, through the development of vaccines, the study of the microbiome, or new uses of existing antibiotics.
• The map reveals that 43 AseBio partners are taking direct actions aimed at combating antibiotic resistance through various capabilities.
• Most of these biotech organizations focus on human health, but a quarter of them focus their activities on animal health or do so in a cross-cutting manner.