ISSUES

Supporting policies at the state and federal levels

The Kentucky Life Sciences Council advocates for policies that improve patient access to care and drive innovation across the bioscience and healthcare industries.

Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights

• Strengthening Innovation and Access: Robust intellectual property protections drive the research and development of breakthrough treatments, ensuring U.S. patients have continued access to lifesaving cures and advanced medicines.

• Preserving Global Leadership: A strong patent system secures America’s competitive edge in biotechnology, reinforcing our position as a global leader in innovation.

• Fueling Economic Growth: Reliable IP protections empower the U.S. bioscience industry to thrive, stimulating economic growth, revitalizing communities, and supporting more than 10 million jobs nationwide.

Improving Access to Care & Lowering the Cost of Medicine

• Biopharmaceutical Innovation Saves Money: Every breakthrough treatment reduces hospital stays, complicated surgeries, and lowers overall healthcare costs.

• Removing Barriers to Care: Addressing harmful practices by healthcare middlemen is essential to ensure patients can access the medicines they need at fair prices.

• Protecting Patients from Unfair Costs: Kentuckians deserve safeguards against insurance and PBM policies that shift the cost to patients while providing no real value to patient care.

Reauthorization of the SBIR/STTR programs

• These programs provide critical funding that launches biotech startups, delivering billions annually to thousands of small and mid-sized companies.

• Without reauthorization, research slows, innovation declines, and America’s leadership in global biotechnology is at risk.

• Funding accelerates the development of lifesaving treatments and transformative technologies, advancing innovations that improve lives and strengthen national security.