We all know that California has been hit hard by the current recession. Sadly most of the state is facing dire economic realities that go much deeper than that.  However, its status as the world’s undisputed epicenter of biotechnology has not been tarnished one bit, according to a new survey released by the California Healthcare Institute.

While the news is surprisingly upbeat, the Golden State’s money maker will move to greener pastures  shores if state and federal policies are not updated to compete with Asian competitors.

The report, executive summary and fact sheets can be accessed here. Also, PharmaExec.com has a good breakdown of the policy angle of this story.

Key findings of the survey are: 

• Over the past year, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of California biomedical companies either maintained or expanded their workforce, while other parts of California’s economy saw steep declines and the highest unemployment levels in three-quarters of a century. 
• Over the next two years, 81 percent of biomedical companies expect to maintain or increase their workforce in California. 
• Two-thirds of biomedical companies also expect to increase their out-of-state manufacturing workforce over the next two years.  More than half (58 percent) anticipate expanding their research and development workforce outside of California.

New vaccines employing biotech innovations are changing the way we prevent illness.  Dr. Targan explains how biotech researchers are discovering new ways to prevent illnesses such as HPV, hepatitis-B, meningitis, and even the flu through new and improved research, manufacturing, and delivery mechanisms.

Download to listen or view the podcast.

BIOtech Now’s Tracy Krughoff talks to Dr. David Agus of the University of Southern California’s Westside Prostate Cancer Center and the Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. His research focuses on the application of proteomics and genomics for the study of cancer and the development of new therapeutics for prostate cancer. Dr. Agus also is one of the judges for the Biotechnology Humanitarian Award, which will be given at the 2010 BIO International Convention.

Listen to the podcast:
http://www.bio.org/podcasts/agus.wma

In an ideal world, everyone would have a strong and positive relationship with the FDA. With that as a goal, PricewaterhouseCoopers has launched its fifth survey –Improving America’s Health V Survey – to gauge the working relationship between the life sciences industry and the FDA. Your feedback is important to make this survey a success.

To participate, please send an email to PricewaterhouseCoopers.and.BIOCOM@us.pwc.com with “Life Sciences FDA Survey” in the subject line. A survey will then be forwarded to you. The survey should take only 15 to 20 minutes to complete. All responses to the survey will be kept confidential and private.

Those who participate in the survey will receive a preview copy of the results prior to their public release. The survey will close on Feb. 26. Please help foster improved relations between our industry and the FDA.

BIOtech Now’s Tracy Krughoff talks to Dr. Kim Hunter-Schaedle, Chief Scientific Officer of the Children’s Tumor Foundation, which is dedicated to ending neurofibromatosis through research. The Children’s Tumor Foundation is one of the advocacy organizations presenting at the upcoming CEO & Investor Conference.

Listen to the podcast:
http://www.bio.org/podcasts/HunterSchaedle.wma