The biotech industry has finally found its collective voice, drafting and signing an open letter on Monday that condemns President Donald Trump’s ban on immigration from seven majority-Muslim nations.
The letter, titled “US immigration order strikes against biotech,” was published in Nature Biotechnology on Tuesday. Some 166 founders, leaders and investors signed the diplomatic but unequivocal document.
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We the undersigned, founders and leaders of biotech companies, write to express our deep concern and opposition to the executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2017, barring the entry of citizens from seven countries into the United States.
Some big names are on the list, including Alnylam, Biogen, Seattle Genetics and Bluebird Bio. On the venture capital side, Venrock, Third Rock, Flagship Pioneering and more also went on record.
Conspicuously absent: Amgen and Celgene, the two biotech companies invited to the White House on January 31 to speak with the president. Gilead Sciences, the largest biotech in the business, was also MIA.
At the time of publishing, Gilead had not responded to a request for comment.
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Two themes emerge in the letter. The first is the sentiment that the travel ban from seven countries feels like an affront against all immigrants.
Though the ban from the Trump administration is aimed at seven countries, our global employees interpret the underlying message as, “America is no longer welcoming of any immigrants, whatsoever.” They fear similar orders could be issued for other countries at a moment’s notice. They fear being stigmatized and discriminated against, simply because of their religion, irrespective of the nation they come from. Several among us have heard from employees about their deportation fears, how they do not feel comfortable leaving the country on business or how they now feel cut off from their family abroad.
The second major theme is that immigrants, innovation and the biotech industry are inextricably tied. The letter cites a 2014 study, published in Nature, that found 52 percent of the 69,000 biomedical researchers in the United States were foreign-born.
At a stroke, the new administration has compromised years of investment in this national treasure. Our colleagues who are here on visas or are in global outposts are now fearful and uncertain of their status. Scientists based in other countries and employed by our companies are afraid to come to the United States or are canceling trips. The parents and families of immigrants who live and work in the United States are reluctant to attempt to travel to and from the United States.
President Trump signed the executive order on immigration on Friday, January 27, preventing citizens from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia from entering the United States.
Leaders from many Fortune 500 companies immediately spoke out, but few biotech leaders were prepared to go on record. Brent Saunders, the CEO of Allergan, was an early exception.
$AGN is strong & bold bc of diversity. Oppose any policy that puts limitations on our ability to attract the best & diverse talent.
— Brent Saunders (@brentlsaunders) January 29, 2017
A number of industry leaders soon followed suit, but they remained in the minority. Big Pharma was universally silent. Many commentators suspected the drug companies were fearful of Trump’s threats to lower prescription prices.
On February 2, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked the executive order nationwide. The President has appealed and publicly stated that he will work to overturn the ruling.
Photo: Tawng, Big Stock