When CEOs face pressure to speak on political issues, acting as a unified group, like the 69 Minnesota CEOs did, provides safety in numbers. A coalition is harder for political actors to single out and punish than an individual executive.

While large pharmaceutical companies spend record amounts lobbying against drug pricing policies, the trade group for smaller biotechs has cut its spending to a 20-year low. This divergence highlights how immediate commercial threats, rather than broader FDA policy changes, are currently driving lobbying priorities for different segments of the industry.

When trying to influence external partners, start with those most eager to collaborate. This 'coalition of the willing' builds momentum, helps set standards, and creates social pressure for larger, slower-moving players to join the initiative.

The current political and regulatory environment means running a biotech company is no longer just about science and capital. CEOs must now actively engage in policy discussions and lobby legislators to ensure the ecosystem remains favorable for innovation. Ignoring politics is no longer an option.

Luba Greenwood reframes competition in biotech as a positive force. When multiple companies pursue the same biological target, it validates the target's importance and accelerates discovery. This collaborative mindset benefits the entire field and, ultimately, patients, as the best and safest drug will prevail.

Bio is creating a formal system for biotech companies to report challenges with the FDA. Bio will synthesize this feedback monthly and present it directly to FDA leadership, creating a novel channel to elevate systemic issues and improve accountability.

True innovation in getting drugs to patients is not about pharma creating pricing models alone. It requires a multi-stakeholder partnership where payers, physicians, and manufacturers work together to solve problems for specific patient subgroups. This collaborative effort, not a unilateral one, is what truly saves lives and reduces costs.

The biotech industry's messaging to legislators often fails because it focuses on economic contributions. To gain support and combat negative narratives, leaders must shift to "plain speak," using patient stories to humanize their work and focus on their core mission of improving health.

Beyond legislation and rulemaking, the government can act as a neutral convener, bringing together competing industry players to negotiate solutions to complex problems like lowering drug prices, bypassing legislative gridlock and lengthy legal battles.