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China’s Biotech Ambitions: The Growing Threat to America’s Leadership
Over the past decade, China has executed a sustained, long-range strategy to build a globally competitive biopharmaceutical sector. Through coordinated investment and policy, the country has moved from “me-too” products to cutting-edge therapies, while elevating regulatory and manufacturing standards to global norms. And it’s working. On Dec. 11, We Work For Health convened a full room of stakeholders for a critical discussion on China’s accelerating biopharmaceutical ambit
1 day ago
Maintaining America's Competitive Edge in Clinical Trials and Biopharmaceutical Development: A Conversation with Dr. Gary Puckrein
We Work for Health's Executive Director Dan Leonard recently sat down with Dr. Gary Puckrein, President and CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), to discuss his organization's work to ensure fair access to life-saving research and emerging treatments as well as what needs to be done to preserve America's innovation leadership. The discussion highlighted the public health and economic imperatives of maintaining U.S. competitiveness in biopharmaceutical research
4 days ago
We Work For Health Statement on CMS Release of the MFP for IPAY 2027 Selected Drugs
November 26, 2025 (Washington, DC) We Work For Health Executive Director Dan Leonard issued the following statement in response to the administration’s announcement on the Maximum Fair Prices (MFP) for IPAY 2027 selected drugs: “We Work For Health has been sounding the alarm about the dangers of government price controls since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This latest announcement from the Administration is yet another troubling consequence of that pol
Nov 26
Senate Special Committee on Aging Flags China as Key Vulnerability in the U.S. Drug Supply Chain
Members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging convened last week to hear from witnesses on restoring trust in American-made medicines. The hearing highlighted urgent concerns about America’s reliance on foreign nations, particularly China, for critical drug ingredients and finished medications. Witnesses and lawmakers warned that this dependence is compromising patient safety, national security and supply-chain resilience. As Senator Scott (R-FL) said in his opening
Nov 24
Chinese Biotech Firms are Booming Amid ‘Genuine’ Shift
Chinese biotech stock is reportedly “booming” while outperforming its U.S. counterpart, delivering the latest data point in a worrisome trend for America’s patients, economy, and national security. According to a recent STAT article , while U.S. biotech stock is up 20% this year, China's is up a whopping 80%. At first glance, this could be dismissed as another short-term spike. Similar ones were observed between 2018 and 2021 when a flurry of Chinese drugmakers launched IPO
Nov 19
North Carolina’s Innovation Advantage: IP, Research, and Economic Impact
North Carolina’s life sciences industry is a hub of innovation that drives economic growth and advances health care. Its research and biotech sectors employ more than 226,000 people and contribute more than $80 billion to the state’s economy. Through thousands of clinical trials involving millions of participants, the state plays a central role in finding discoveries that improve patient care nationwide. That’s where strong intellectual property (IP) protections come in
Nov 14
Senate HELP Committee Hearing Highlights Urgency of U.S. Leadership in Biotechnology Amid Rising Competition from China
The urgency for the U.S. to maintain its leadership in biotechnology – especially in competition with China – is growing. This issue came into sharp focus during recent discussions between lawmakers and industry experts at a Senate HELP Committee hearing . “I recently spoke to a group of biotech leaders,” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said. “They, in varying degrees, view China as a collaborator, a competitor and as a threat. When developers are looking outside our country for
Nov 4
Former USPTO Director David Kappos on Why Strong IP Protections are Key to America’s Edge
As we wrap up IP Month, WWFH Executive Director Dan Leonard sat down for a conversation with David Kappos of the Council for Innovation Promotion. As former Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Lawyer at IBM, Kappos is an expert in the innovation and intellectual property (IP) space. Throughout the conversation, Kappos underscores the fundamental importance of strong IP protections
Oct 31
WWFH's Executive Director Encourages FDA to Continue Strengthening the Domestic Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
We Work For Health Executive Director Dan Leonard recently sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commending its commitment to expanding domestic drug research and manufacturing capabilities. He also urged the agency to encourage continued progress in fortifying the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain. For more on how U.S. investments are driving innovation, explore WWFH's Biopharma Investment Watch .
Oct 30
From Lab to Life: Why Technology Transfer is Crucial to America's Innovation Pipeline
During October’s Intellectual Property Month, WWFH’s Executive Director Dan Leonard sat down with Laura Schoppe of Tech Pipeline for a timely conversation about the future of American innovation. With China's biopharmaceutical sector gaining ground and policy challenges mounting at home, Laura's insights come at a critical moment. Drawing on her experience in academic technology transfer and biopharmaceutical innovation, Laura offers a nuanced look at both the opportunities
Oct 29
Protecting America's Innovation Advantage: An IP Month Conversation with ITIF's Stephen Ezell
In recognition of Intellectual Property (IP) Month, We Work For Health 's Executive Director Dan Leonard sat down with Stephen Ezell of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) to explore the state of America’s innovation ecosystem. Their conversation covered pressing topics such as rising competitive challenges from China and how misguided policy choices could impact the U.S.’s global standing for generations. Ezell, who directs ITIF’s Center for Life Sci
Oct 17
Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Considers Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA)
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property held a hearing on the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) , which would bring much-needed clarity to the patent system that is essential for the United States maintaining its global leadership in the life sciences. October is Intellectual Property Month, and We Work For Health is continuing to call on policymakers to prioritize meaningful reforms and modernize the intellectual property
Oct 16
China’s Biotech Boom is a Warning for America. What Will Policymakers Do?
A Hong Kong-based healthcare expert recently warned that China's biotechnology sector has achieved such rapid advancement and cost advantages that it may fundamentally reshape the global pharmaceutical landscape and potentially displace the United States as the world’s innovator of new cures. Cui Cui, managing director and head of Asia healthcare research at Jefferies, recently spoke to Endpoints News about the dramatic transformation of China’s life sciences sector and the
Oct 15
Report: China Biopharma IPOs Outmuscle U.S. Activity
There is yet another metric depicting how China is aggressively readying itself to challenge, and potentially surpass,...
Oct 10
New U.S. Biopharma Investment Watch: $425B+ Committed in 2025
America's biopharmaceutical sector is delivering unprecedented investment in domestic innovation and manufacturing capacity. In 2025...
Oct 3
As China Surges in Biopharma, Ex-FDA Chief Urges U.S. to Act Fast
Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently appeared on an Endpoints News video series to share insight into China's rapid ascent in...
Oct 1
Nothing ‘Generic’ About China’s Biopharma Threat to U.S.
China’s life science footprint once functioned as little more than a factory on the global stage. It supplied high-volume generics and...
Sep 23
China Competition Spotlighted in House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health recently held a hearing, Examining Policies to Enhance Seniors’ Access to...
Sep 22
A case for sustaining leadership in biomedical innovation
By: Dan Leonard, Executive Director, We Work For Health The decades-long partnership between the federal government, research-focused...
Aug 28
Getting Our House in Order: A Smarter Path to Drug Pricing Reform
The Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing policy proposal remains an administration focus since a May executive order . Most recently,...
Aug 26
Securing U.S. Innovation: The Role of IP in Advancing Life Sciences
Together with the Council for Innovation Promotion, We Work For Health recently hosted a roundtable discussion focused on the pivotal...
Aug 25
Kansas made huge discoveries with Congress’ help. Are they at risk?
By: Dan Leonard, Executive Director, We Work For Health Kansas is both a driver and a beneficiary of the most sustained period of growth...
Aug 14
North Carolina Innovation Leaders to Host Discussion with Congresswoman Ross and Spotlight IP's Role in Medical Progress
Roundtable Highlights How Strong IP Protections Drive Breakthroughs and Benefit Patients RALEIGH, NC (August 12, 2025) — On Tuesday,...
Aug 12
Why Drug Pricing Reform Must Start with PBMs– Not Price Controls
By: Tom Kowalski, Co-Chair, We Work For Health Recent efforts to revive the so-called “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) drug pricing policy...
Jul 25
Our Innovation Economy: Thanks to the Bayh-Dole Act
The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 enables universities to retain intellectual property rights to discoveries made with federal funding, spurring...
Jul 24
What They Are Saying: Voices Against Harmful Drug Pricing Policies
While some in Washington are proposing damaging drug pricing policies, including “Most Favored Nation,” China is gaining ground in...
Jul 22
Now Is the Time to Maximize– Not Reduce– Investment in America’s Innovation Leaders
By: Candace DeMatteis, JD MPH, Policy Director, We Work For Health What do North Carolina’s incredible universities have in common, in...
Jul 14
How Biotech Boosts American Union Construction Workers
A common depiction of a U.S. biopharmaceutical industry worker shows someone working alone in a sterile lab environment. They wear a...
Jul 11
Colorado will be affected by U.S. medical innovation policy
By: Candace DeMatteis, JD MPH, Policy Director, We Work For Health Smart policymaking and American ingenuity have combined to create an...
Jul 10
New White Paper Highlights How University Research Powers American Innovation – and What Could Be Lost if Policymakers Aren’t Careful
American innovation has long been the envy of the world, built on a foundation of strong intellectual property protections,...
Jun 16
Red Alert: China Surpasses U.S. in Clinical Trials
By Dan Leonard, Executive Director, We Work For Health Global innovation is a long-distance race. For decades, the United States has led...
May 30
We Work For Health Statement on Administration’s May 12 Executive Order on ‘Most Favored Nation’
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2025) — We Work For Health released the following statement in response to the executive order signed Monday...
May 12
The Most Favored Nation Policy: The Last Straw for U.S. Life Sciences Amid China’s Ascendancy
By: Dan Leonard, Executive Director, We Work For Health The Administration’s latest proposal to revive the Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug...
May 9
We Work For Health Statement on Foreign Reference Pricing for Medicaid
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2025) — We Work For Health released the following statement in response to reports around foreign reference...
May 5
New Research Reinforces Need to Fix IRA, Protect Access to Future Cancer Cures
By Dan Leonard, Executive Director, WWFH The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in August 2022, contains a healthcare...
Apr 28
World IP Day 2025: Preserving America's Leadership in Biopharmaceutical Innovation
This Saturday, we observe World Intellectual Property Day , a moment to reflect on how intellectual property (IP) rights enable...
Apr 25
Safeguarding Medical Breakthroughs: The EPIC Act as a Path Forward
We Work For Health recently hosted a Congressional briefing about the IRA "pill penalty" and the importance of passing the Ensuring...
Apr 22
IRA: Three Letters That Undermine Two Urgent Priorities — Fostering Innovation in Healthcare and Accelerating Economic Growth
By Tom Kowalski, WWFH Co-Chair Chronic disease has contributed to declining life expectancy in the United States , a disturbing pattern...
Apr 21
We Work For Health Statement on Administration’s Executive Order
We Work For Health released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s April 15 executive order regarding the Inflation...
Apr 15
New Research Reveals the Devastating Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act’s “Pill Penalty” on Small Molecule Medicines
Small-molecule drug investment has fallen 68%—and 74% for diseases mainly affecting Medicare patients—since the IRA was introduced FOR...
Apr 13
Capitol Hill Briefing Unveils New Data Behind the ‘Epic’ EPIC Act
The lead sponsors of the Ensuring Pathways to Innovative Cures (EPIC) Act addressed a room full of Congressional office employees and...
Apr 11
Join Us: We Work For Health Hosts Special Event About the Ongoing Threats of the IRA
Learn about the Inflation Reduction Act—and how it’s threatening America’s biopharmaceutical ecosystem and our nation’s Medicare-aged...
Apr 3
Protecting Innovation and Patient Access: Why Congress Must Reject Anti-Patent Legislation
Innovation often comes in increments. The first smartphones could not record video or take front-facing photos, and there certainly was...
Apr 2
Biopharma-Funded Clinical Trials Drive Billions in Economic Impact, Advance Medical Research & Treatments
A new report highlights the significant investments and economic impact generated by clinical trials funded by the biopharmaceutical...
Mar 13
We Work For Health Applauds Senate Introduction of the EPIC Act
Legislation would address the “pill penalty” and strengthen U.S. leadership in pharmaceutical innovation. WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 6,...
Mar 6
We Work For Health and Stakeholders Discuss Impact of the IRA
Healthcare costs continue to be a significant concern for Americans. While policies like government price controls under the Inflation...
Feb 28
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