General Catalyst: Pro-Competitive Partnerships Drive “Steady Drumbeat of Innovation” in the Life Sciences
Investment in early-stage life sciences companies is critical to sustain America’s global leadership in discovering and developing new medical breakthroughs for patients, according to a recent General Catalyst blog, “The Future of Life Sciences Investment.” Early-stage life sciences companies are unique for their ability to leverage specialized scientific knowledge and a nimble structure to pursue new, innovative approaches to treat a disease. However, these companies often rely on external investment, such as from venture capital (VC), to be able navigate the cost pressures and considerable risks associated with early-stage drug development.
Life sciences mergers and acquisitions (M&A) represent a clear exit point for VC investors, attracting investment and allowing companies of all sizes to combine their complementary resources, skills and expertise to bring new medicines to patients. Amidst an increasingly challenging investment landscape, preserving M&A is critical to continue supporting the hundreds of pre-clinical companies working to bring new therapies to patients.
Highlights from the blog are included below:
- “Over the past decade, the biopharmaceutical industry has quietly produced a steady drumbeat of significant medical advances…Despite these advances, there’s global pressure to innovate faster. While the U.S. has historically been the global leader in scientific research and development, it now faces increased international competition…”
- “For America to maintain its competitive advantage, it must continue investing in research and clinical development… We believe that venture capital can meaningfully contribute to fill this investment gap, providing support for America’s continued ability to innovate and advance global human health."
- “This isn’t just our belief — venture-backed companies are driving enhanced R&D productivity and efficiency. Recent data shows that roughly 65% of new medicines originated from outside of large pharmaceutical companies.”
- “We believe the most meaningful breakthroughs in life sciences are rarely achieved in isolation. They’re the result of deep, sustained collaboration — between scientists and clinicians, industry and academia, and increasingly, founders and investors.”
As this blog highlights, life sciences M&A remains a critical pathway for fueling investment and supporting America’s role as a global leader in life sciences innovation. Policymakers must recognize the value of life science M&A and support enforcement policies that encourage these pro-competitive partnerships and the innovative medicines they bring to patients.
About the Partnership for U.S. Life Science Ecosystem (PULSE)
The U.S. life sciences ecosystem depends on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as well as other collaborations to bring together the resources, investment and expertise needed to develop and deliver new treatments and cures for patients. PULSE is dedicated to raising awareness about the unique life sciences ecosystem and the importance of M&A in leveraging efficiency and experience across companies of all sizes. PULSE will help advance a national dialogue focused on fostering innovation across the life sciences while supporting a competitive U.S. market that advances next generation treatments and cures for patients. For more information, visit https://pulseforinnovation.org/.
Celebrating the Next Generation of Scientific Breakthroughs in Georgia
August 18, 2025 By Lauren McDonald – Originally published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle The Georgia Life Sciences advocacy organization will honor numerous Atlanta businesses and other key players in the state's life sciences industry with this year’s Golden Helix Awards. The Golden Helix Awards celebrate “excellence and achievement” across Georgia’s life sciences ecosystem. The recognition honors individuals, companies and institutions “making significant contributions to scientific discovery, health innovation, and economic growth in the state and beyond,” according to the Georgia Life Sciences organization. Georgia Life Sciences is an Atlanta-based nonprofit that promotes the growth of the life sciences industry and works to connect businesses, academic institutions, government and others to develop products and fuel industry expansion. “The Golden Helix Awards shine a spotlight on the bold ideas and visionary leaders propelling Georgia’s life sciences sector forward,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, president and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. The state’s life sciences industry supports around 78,000 jobs and includes close to 4,000 companies, according to the nonprofit. A partnership between the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim and the University of Georgia for a Sustainable Development Excellence Certificate Program earned the Phoenix Award, which celebrates an industry and academic collaboration. A new neuromuscular diagnostic technology called Myomatrix, developed during Muneeb Zia’s studies at Georgia Tech in 2018, will receive the Innovation Award recognizing work that “goes beyond the traditional paradigms and has the potential to significantly impact human health, agriculture or environmental sustainability.” Myomatrix enables researchers to better record muscle activity through minimally invasive access and with cellular-level detail. It’s used by more than 200 researchers globally today. Numerous Atlanta businesses will also receive Deal of the Year awards, including Andson Biotech for closing a $3.6 million seed round and Micron Biomedical for securing $16 million to expand manufacturing of needle-free vaccine delivery technology and to advance multiple vaccine candidates toward commercialization. The Deal of the Year awards recognize companies making the most significant transactions in the biotech industry over the past year. Moonlight Therapeutics will receive the award for closing its first equity round to advance an allergen immunotherapy platform for treating food allergies. Synaptrix will receive the award in recognition of its $13 million fundraise to develop a drug-free postoperative pain management device. The Michigan-based medtech company Stryker will receive the award to celebrates its acquisition agreement with Artelon in Sandy Springs. And Duracell will be recognized for selecting Georgia as the site of its new North American research and development headquarters. Minnesota-based ANI Pharmaceuticals will receive the award for its plan to acquire Alimera Sciences in Alpharetta for $453 million and expand its global footprint to three commercial rare disease assets. Benjamin Siciliano with Atlanta-based Radyus Research will receive the Emerging Leader of the Year award, and Amanda Barrett at Marietta High School will earn the Teacher of the Year award. Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, representing the 52nd District in Rome, will receive the Legislator of the Year award. This year’s winners will be honored at a ceremony Aug. 26 during the Georgia Life Sciences Summit in Sandy Springs.
August 20, 2025 - The Honorable Dr. Mehmet Oz Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 7500 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21244 A dm inistrator Oz, We, the undersigned organizations, urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a timely, streamlined pathway for Medicare patients to access breakthrough medical technology. Closely aligning the efforts of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CMS, the rule will streamline regulatory coordination and eliminate unnecessary obstacles standing between physicians and patients, helping to make Americans healthier. Every day, Medicare patients across the country confront diagnoses, unexpected health emergencies, and the challenges of managing chronic conditions. Simultaneously, new and innovative medtech are continuously developed, offering profound improvements in patient care, health, and outcomes. Medtech has helped shrink the duration of hospital stays by 38%, reduce deaths from breast cancer by 43%, and decrease fatalities from heart disease and stroke by 49%. Medtech also aids in earlier identification of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, underscoring the critical importance of patient access to these advancements. Despite this remarkable impact and the continuous pace of innovation, Medicare patients face a significant and unacceptable barrier to accessing innovative medical technology. A recent study alarmingly revealed that for technologies requiring a new reimbursement pathway, nearly six years passed between FDA market authorization and Medicare coverage. Patients should not be forced to wait the better part of a decade for access to safe and effective medical technology that holds the potential to meaningfully improve their health and life. Existing programs, including the Transitional Coverage of Emerging Technologies (TCET) program, fall short of providing the consistent, timely, and predictable access that breakthrough technologies demand. Its voluntary nature and limited scope – among other issues – fall short of delivering the life-changing innovations to patients who need them most. This administration has a significant opportunity to course correct and make meaningful progress on improving American health. We have long supported a swift and streamlined approach to Medicare coverage of innovative medical devices and diagnostics that improve health outcomes for patients with debilitating or life-threatening illnesses. We are encouraged by Administrator Oz’s early focus on exploring options for a better pathway for recently approved medical devices, and we encourage CMS to take bold action. A program mirroring the core tenets of the original Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) framework, embodied in legislative proposals like S. 1717, offers a superior solution. This would provide coverage for FDA market authorized breakthrough technologies – including diagnostics – ensuring that Medicare patients and their care teams have more timely access to innovations upon FDA clearance. Crucially, it would also provide a clear, predictable roadmap for CMS to collect additional necessary evidence for making a permanent coverage decision. This would – in addition to removing or bridging regulatory obstacles – demonstrate CMS’s commitment to patient-centered care and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can benefit from the rapid advancements in medtech without unnecessary delays, helping make for a stronger, healthier country. Sincerely, Access Ready, Inc AdvaMed All Wheels Up Alliance for Aging Research Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Impact Movement American Association for Homecare American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network American Diabetes Association American Music Therapy Association Arizona Bioindustry Association, Inc. (AZBio) Arthritis Foundation Association of Black Cardiologists Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network Bio Nebraska Biocom California BioFlorida BioForward Wisconsin BioUtah Breakthrough T1D Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer California Life Sciences CDx Diagnostics Colorado BioScience Association Conquering CHD CureLGMD2i Foundation Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium (FMMC) Georgia Life Sciences HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ) HealthyWomen Heart Valve Voice US Hydrocephalus Association Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, iBIO Indiana Life Sciences Association International Registry of Rehab Technology Suppliers Life Science Oklahoma Life Science Tennessee Life Science Washington Life Sciences Pennsylvania LifeSciencesNY Maryland Tech Council MassMEDIC Medical Alley Michigan Biosciences Industry Association (MichBio) Missouri Biotechnology Association Montana Bioscience Alliance National Health Council National Psoriasis Foundation NC Life Sciences Organization New Mexico Biotechnology & Biomedical Association NewYorkBIO NH Life Sciences (NHLS) ONE CANCER PLACE Oregon Bioscience Association Patients Rising Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) RI Bio Right Scan Right Time Say YES to Hope South Dakota Biotech Spina Bifida Association Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute The Mended Hearts, Inc. The Ohio Life Sciences Association Virginia Biotechnology Association Voices of Alzheimer’s Women's Health Advocates
