GSK is the latest to turn its back on prominent industry lobbying group Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), following a string of exits by companies including Pfizer, UCB, WuXi AppTec and Takeda.
The British drugmaker has opted not to renew its BIO membership for 2025 following an annual evaluation of its corporate memberships and trade association participation, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“We remain committed to fostering a policy environment that prioritizes disease prevention, addresses health equity and access barriers, and incentivizes sustainable innovation,” the company representative added. “At this time, we believe there are other areas we can focus our resources.”
GSK’s split from the group follows in the footsteps of Takeda, which also decided not to renew its membership after its own routine review back in April. Before that, WuXi AppTec hit the exit due to BIO’s support of the recently House-confirmed BIOSECURE Act, which specifically targets five Chinese life science companies including WuXi AppTec and WuXi Biologics.
Pfizer and UCB also pulled out of BIO in December and January, respectively, while AbbVie cut ties back in 2022.
Despite the exits, BIO “has a diverse membership of nearly 1,000 global companies” and is “extremely well positioned” for the future, a spokesperson told Fierce Pharma via email.
“While individual members make their respective decisions annually on membership, BIO has never been stronger both financially and organizationally to execute on our strategic priorities to advance biotechnology,” the spokesperson said.
Still, the timing of GSK’s withdrawal from the lobbying group comes just before a new U.S. president could shake things up on the drug policy front.
It remains unclear what, exactly, President-elect Donald Trump has planned for pharma but analysts expect less FTC intervention and potential changes at the FDA if Trump follows through on his promise to allow vaccine opposer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “go wild on health” and medicines.
GSK CEO Emma Walmsley spoke on the election results at a London summit on Wednesday, noting that while the company will have to work constructively with a new administration, “let’s see what happens in terms of who is appointed” into government roles. The British company is “heavily invested” in the U.S., the chief said.
As for BIO, the group “look[s] forward to working closely” with Trump and his upcoming administration.
“The public health and our national security are best served by strong leadership that respects and advances science and medicine and ensures that the United States and our allies continue to lead the world in biotechnology,” BIO CEO John Crowley said in a statement Wednesday.