What do people live for? A few takeaways from the 2019 Georgia Bio Innovation Summit

Georgia’s life sciences community contributes more than $20 billion to the state’s GDP according to a recent report from RTI for Georgia Bio, the state’s life sciences partnership. Employment in the sector grew by nearly 15% from 2007 to 2017, almost double the national average. 

The 2019 edition of the Georgia Bio Innovation Summit convened hundreds of life science executives, scientists, researchers and public policy officials earlier this month. With four industry tracks the program had something for everyone no matter their particular place in Georgia’s science ecosystem.

Remembering the collective “why”

Marc Boutin, CEO of the National Health Council, inspired everyone in attendance during his lunch keynote address. “Your innovations help people live their dreams,” he said. “Those dreams are not always about survival.”

“What do people live for?” What a powerful question. Marc shared the following video ad from TC Bank.

Will healthcare ever realize “value?”

During the fireside chat portion of the lunch session, Sheila Burke, strategic advisor and chair for the government relations and public policy group of Baker Donelson underscored one of the greatest challenges in shifts from fee-for-service to value-based care. Quality and value are highly nuanced and highly personal. Yet patient input where value is currently assigned is limited.

If we define value as outcomes divided by cost, the shift from fee-for-service to value-based care may be impossible or mostly ineffective until this country assigns some dollar amount to quality adjusted life years, particularly when patient interests may not always be about longevity. Much like surgery for men with prostate cancer over 70, therapies and procedures that cost seven figures or more are simply not a value-based proposition for an 80 year old when allocating scarce resources. However, they may well present value for those of a much younger age.

As always, the opportunity to connect with colleagues and expand professional networks was of high value. There were well over 500 registrants and the ballroom was near standing room only for the lunch program. Here are a few other session insights.

The latest boobytrap waiting to maim medtech and life science innovators

Design history file remediation remains a sizeable stumbling block for innovators seeking investment to advance their products is. It can – and does – kill deals. But GCMI CEO Tiffany Wilson brought an emerging issue of equal risk to light. It’s the supply chain. Will the materials for your custom circuitry still be readily available (and at a cost that does not ruin your price structure) in five years? 

Who will get your products to markets around the globe? How sensitive are they to time, temperature and other rigors of transport? Georgia’s logistics capabilities make Atlanta an excellent home for medical product companies and innovators. Beyond carriers like UPS, are there better ways to get them there? Dr. Marc Prausnitz at Georgia Tech is developing microneedle technology that presents a better way to get critical medications and vaccines to patients around the globe. 

Advice for medical product startups and innovators from the investors

Founders, your team will be talking to the money (VCs, investors, potential acquirers, etc.) and many times you won’t be in the room. This underscores the importance of culture and team building, which is typically not a great strength among founders of medtech and life science companies. Entrepreneurs seeking seed stage funding, up to $2 million or thereabout, your people are your greatest asset, not your technology or IP according to Kim Seals, general partner with The JumpFund.

Protip: if you say your innovation has no competition, you don’t know your market. And if you tell an investor theirs is the ‘last money in,’ you do not have a realistic view of the actual time and cost requirements of commercializing medical products. Thanks to Tom Callaway, venture partner with HealthQuest Capital for driving those points home.

We thank Georgia Bio, the board, staff and program steering committee for arranging and hosting an outstanding event. We are already looking forward to 2020 while putting what we learned to use and advancing conversations with colleagues new and old we saw this year.

Follow Georgia Bio on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. 

Georgia Life Sciences Weighs In on PBM and 340B Policy

October 5, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences has submitted written comments to the Georgia House Study Committee on Pharmacy Benefits Managers and Consumers’ Access to Prescription Medications, encouraging greater transparency, accountability, and a focus on measurable patient benefit across the prescription drug system. The comments address both pharmacy benefit manager practices and the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, emphasizing the importance of understanding where prescription drug savings accrue and whether those savings ultimately benefit patients. The Study Committee continues its work this fall as it develops recommendations for the Georgia General Assembly. Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments →

Georgia Life Sciences Joins National Coalition Calling for PAHPA Reauthorization

September 22, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences (GLS) has joined more than 80 organizations from across industry, academia, public health and the biosecurity community in calling on congressional leaders to fully reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) before the end of 2026. Led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the coalition urged congressional leaders to advance a comprehensive reauthorization of PAHPA, the federal framework that supports the nation’s ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies and other health security threats. First enacted in 2006, PAHPA established and strengthened critical components of the nation’s health security infrastructure, including the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The law also supports public-private partnerships involved in the research, development, manufacturing and procurement of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. PAHPA’s authorization expired in 2023 and key provisions have since continued through short-term extensions. The coalition is calling for a comprehensive reauthorization that provides greater stability and ensures the nation’s preparedness infrastructure can continue adapting to emerging biological, infectious disease and other health security threats. For the life sciences industry, these programs are particularly important. Partnerships between government and industry can help move promising technologies from research through development and manufacturing while maintaining capabilities needed to respond quickly during an emergency. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), also a signatory to the letter, has identified several priorities for reauthorization, including continued authorization of BARDA, the Strategic National Stockpile, Project BioShield and the Pandemic Influenza Program, as well as incentives supporting the development of medical countermeasures. Georgia Life Sciences is proud to join organizations across the country in supporting a strong and sustainable national framework for health security, preparedness and biomedical innovation. Read the coalition letter and view the full list of signatories.

Georgia Life Sciences Urges Protection of Patient Access as Georgia Implements Medicaid Changes

September 14, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences has submitted comments to the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) regarding the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program and implementation of new federal Medicaid requirements. As Georgia prepares for these changes, Georgia Life Sciences is urging state leaders to prioritize continuity of care and minimize unnecessary administrative barriers that could delay or disrupt access to medically necessary treatment . This is particularly important for Georgians living with serious, chronic, rare, and medically complex conditions who may rely on ongoing medications, diagnostics, therapies, medical technologies, specialty care, and coordinated treatment plans. Even temporary disruptions in coverage can interrupt care and create additional challenges for patients and families. In its comments, Georgia Life Sciences encouraged DCH to protect continuity of coverage during eligibility and redetermination processes, provide patients and caregivers with clear and timely information, minimize unnecessary administrative burdens, and establish appropriate safeguards when a coverage disruption could interrupt an established course of treatment. “As Georgia implements these new federal requirements, we want to ensure that patients remain at the center of the process,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, MPH, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “Administrative changes should not become barriers between patients and the care they need. Protecting continuity of care is particularly important for Georgians managing serious and complex health conditions.” Read Georgia Life Sciences’ full comments to DCH here.
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