GA Safety Promise Statement from Georgia Bio

Maria Thacker Goethe headshot

Dear Members and Partners,

The Center for Global Health Innovation and Georgia Bio advocate for science, communities, and global health. We believe science must be at the forefront of COVID-19 response and all worldwide health issues.

We believe in science, and we believe in communities. For the businesses who call these communities ‘home,’ science and public health recommendations are more important than ever in helping business owners and essential workers combat COVID-19.

For these reasons, we have signed the Georgia Safety Promise , a statewide public-private partnership that encourages businesses and communities to agree to simple, but critical, measures that will keep communities safe. Our collective knowledge of science shows us that the measures outlined in the Safety Promise are the best way to combat COVID-19 and its impact on our state.

The health and safety of our member companies’ employees is top of mind. We are concerned that any increase in COVID-19 cases in Georgia could impact the important work that the biopharmaceutical and MedTech companies are doing. Georgia companies and institutions have enhanced research and manufacturing capabilities for vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Our member companies are committed to continuing the important work they do in Georgia, which is critical to our collective success to ultimately have a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19.

We encourage our partners and members to join us in supporting science by signing the Safety Promise. Wearing face coverings, washing your hands, sanitizing surfaces, and staying six feet apart are scientifically proven to reduce transmission of this virus.

I would like to also bring to your attention a new national public health campaign designed to mobilize support for vaccines. The Public Good Projects (PGP) in partnership with BIO launched a national public health campaign called STRONGER —a first-of-its-kind effort designed to combat the spread of vaccine misinformation online.

STRONGER provides a guide for individuals to combat misinformation, explaining how to spot it, and then block, hide, report, or respond to false posts with facts and a list of trusted experts as a resource for good information on vaccines on social media.

For more information, visit www.stronger.org and follow STRONGER on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube. And don’t forget…follow us in signing the Safety Promise. Follow us in supporting the science.

Sincerely,
Maria Thacker-Goethe
President and CEO
Georgia Bio | Center for Global Health Innovation
Atlanta, Georgia

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Georgia Life Sciences Launches New Podcast Series, Vitals, in Partnership with Cloudcast Media

October 6, 2025
Atlanta, GA — October 6 — Georgia Life Sciences today announced the launch of Vitals, a new podcast series developed in partnership with Cloudcast Media, a leader in branded podcast production. The series will spotlight the people, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Georgia’s rapidly growing life sciences sector. Hosted by Georgia Life Sciences’ CEO, Maria Thacker Goethe, Vitals will feature in-depth conversations with scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, policymakers, and patient advocates. Each episode will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem—spanning biopharma, medical technology, digital health, and advanced manufacturing. “Vitals gives us a powerful platform to showcase the remarkable work happening within our state,” said Maria Thacker Goethe. “By sharing these stories, we’re highlighting not only groundbreaking science but also the collaboration and talent that make Georgia such a vibrant hub for health innovation.” Cloudcast Media, known for its expertise in storytelling and high-quality podcast production, will bring industry insights and technical support to ensure the series reaches audiences across Georgia and beyond. “We’re proud to partner with Georgia Life Sciences on Vitals,” said Charles Parisi, Founder and CEO of Cloudcast. “This series will elevate the voices of innovators who are advancing science, improving patient outcomes, and building Georgia’s reputation as a global life sciences leader. We are very excited that Cloudcast Atlanta can play a role in supporting Maria and the impactful work of Georgia Life Sciences.” The first episode of Vitals launched today and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major streaming platforms, as well as through the Georgia Life Sciences website.

BIO Statement on Most Favored Nation Policies

October 1, 2025
September 30, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. – John F. Crowley, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement on Most Favored Nation policies: "For too many years, Americans have subsidized the research and development necessary to bring newer and better medicines to patients around the world. As we saw with defense spending and NATO, the solution is not to weaken a strategically important American industry, but for other countries to pay their fair share. “Today’s announcement in the Oval Office highlights the problems with a drug delivery system where half of the cost of innovative medicines goes to middlemen and distributors, and where the supply chain distorts prices paid by the American people. We support a new framework that addresses the cost of medicines by simplifying the system - and making medicines directly available to patients. “But importing socialist price controls through most-favored nation policies fundamentally does not address the imbalance in international pricing for innovative medicines. MFN will not lower the out-of-pocket prices that most Americans pay for medicines. Even worse, it will jeopardize the entrepreneurial spirit and deter the capital necessary for a vibrant and essential American biotechnology industry to thrive and may cause most harm to small and midsize biotech companies, which are responsible for discovering more than half of all new treatments. “Without these biotech innovators and a free-market system, we risk slower scientific progress, decreased access to new medicines, compromised national security, fewer American jobs and perhaps most tragically, a diminished hope for those suffering with illness and disease. There are much better ways to address this problem than MFN.” ###
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