Strengthening Biotech Ecosystems: Steve Potts & Robert Coughlin

Vital Health Podcast

In this Vital Health Podcast episode, host Duane Schulthess sits down with Steve Potts, biopharma entrepreneur and chair of the Drug Development Council (ICAN), and Robert Coughlin, Managing Director of Life Sciences at Jones Lang LaSalle, to explore how recent policy changes are reshaping the future of drug development. They unpack the unintended consequences of exclusivity gaps, discuss legislative fixes, and examine the broader impact on patients, investors, and regional biotech clusters.

Key Topics:
- Pill Penalty Explained: How nine-year data exclusivity for small molecules versus 13 years for biologics discourages investment in affordable therapies for older adults.
- EPIC Act Solutions: A bipartisan proposal to extend small-molecule exclusivity to 13 years and rebalance research and development incentives.
- Orphan Drug Incentives: Proposed reforms that would allow multiple exclusivity periods per drug to drive rare disease innovation.
- Patient Advocacy Role: Strategies for empowering patients and disease foundations to influence policy and protect future therapies.
- Biotech Ecosystem Impact: The effect of policy shifts on venture capital flows, lab space demand, and the health of regional innovation hubs.

This episode highlights the critical link between policy design and the pace of medical innovation and why targeted legislative adjustments are essential to sustain future cures. It is a must-listen for policymakers, industry leaders, patient advocates, and anyone interested in the intersection of health policy and drug development.

Recorded on May 30th, 2025.

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