Malloy
backs Connecticut bioscience
A
message from CURE President Paul Pescatello
Dan
Malloy will be Connecticut's next Governor and we look
forward to working with him. He's already
made it clear that he understands biotech's role as
"an economic driver that will help Connecticut create
jobs and grow its economy."
I
met with Dan Malloy and his running mate Nancy Wyman last
September at a press
conference at which his concept of biotech was announced.
I discussed his views with him again when he and Tom Foley met
at a Forum at Yale in October.
Following
those encounters, I wrote a letter
underscoring the importance of biopharma research and
development to Connecticut's economy, published in the New Haven Register at
the end of October. I noted that our Governor-elect's "understanding
of what it takes to bring jobs and industries that play to
Connecticut’s work force and innovation strengths is cause
for optimism."
Appearing
about the same time in the Hartford Courant was a well-timed
reminder from Fred Carstensen, director of the Connecticut
Center for Economic Analysis at the University of
Connecticut, that "Connecticut has demonstrated
competitive strength in several sectors, but only biotech
has shown resilience in the face of the Great
Recession."
As
if to underscore Fred's words, also at the end of October
came word that Connecticut
biopharma firms will receive more than $14 million in grants
under the Federal government's Therapeutic Discovery
Project program. Announced last June as part of the
Federal effort to stimulate the national economy, the
program allocated $1 billion in tax credits or grants to
eligible companies. These monies represent all-important nondilutive
additional capital for the firms involved.
Furthermore,
according to the 2010 State New Economy Index, a
report released by The Information Technology &
Innovation Foundation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman
Foundation, "Massachusetts, Washington, Maryland, New
Jersey, and Connecticut are the top five states at the
forefront of the nation’s movement toward a global,
innovation-based new economy." more
Selection
of final awardees was after rigorous evaluation of
applications by the NIH. We can be proud of the Connecticut
companies — many of them CURE members — that qualified,
and owe a vote of thanks to our Senators Dodd and
Lieberman for their efforts in this area. The
credits/grants applied to tax years 2009 and 2010; whether
they will be extended remains to be seen.
While
the Therapeutic Discovery Project applies only to small
firms, (250 employees or less), Connecticut also is home to
major pharmaceutical operations, including Pfizer's
worldwide research facility in Groton/New London.
Scientists there were heartened to learn recently that a Pfizer
rheumatoid arthritis pill based on a key discovery in the
Connecticut labs had
done well in a late-stage study.
Boehringer-Ingelheim,
another large pharma based in Connecticut, has been
steadfast in its support of expanded science education
through the Boehringer Ingelheim Science Quest program.
Recently volunteers from the company, together with staff
from CURE BioScience Explorations, hosted more than 200
people for an
evening of hands-on science activities at the Shelter
Rock School in Danbury.
One
of Connecticut's strengths as a center of bioscience is its
active stem cell research program. I recently
attended a retreat at UConn's new facilities in Farmington
that documented the considerable progress being made by
UConn, Wesleyan, and Yale in stem cell research. Plans are
going forward for StemConn
2011 on March 22 in Farmington, a symposium that will
highlight the most recent discoveries in stem cell research.
Meanwhile
the
CURE/Yale BioHaven series continues in New Haven,
highlighting local biotechs. Last month we
heard from Seth Feuerstein of Cobalt Therapeutics, whose
innovative approach to cognitive behavioral therapy is
expanding the notion of what we mean by "biotech."
Feuerstein was followed in the BioHaven Series this month by
Sol
Steiner of Biodel, the insulin developer in Danbury.
Also
coming up on December 7 is an annual tradition in
Connecticut's bioscience community, the CURE Holiday
Party. Be sure to RSVP
by December 2 for great food and wine and the best
networking event of the year!
Paul R. Pescatello is President and CEO of CURE.
ppescatello@curenet.org
Link
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