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05/22/2026
BIO Statement on Veto of Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDAB) in VirginiaPatrick J. Plues, Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs & Affiliate Relations at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement on the veto of Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDAB) legislation in Virginia: “BIO applauds Governor Spanberger’s decision to veto SB 271 and HB 483 — legislation that would have established a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) and imposed arbitrary price controls in Virginia. The Governor’s action recognized an important point: even well-intentioned healthcare policies must be carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences for patients, providers, employers, and Virginia’s innovation economy. “BIO is proud to represent biotechnology companies developing the next generation of life-changing medicines, including many in the Commonwealth. We believe policymakers play a critically important role in helping advance both patient access to treatments and the continued growth of the life sciences sector. “We look forward to working with the Governor’s Administration, the General Assembly, Virginia Bio and other stakeholders to advance practical, patient-centered policy solutions that improve affordability while preserving access to care and the innovation ecosystem patients depend on.”
Patrick J. Plues, Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs & Affiliate Relations at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released the following statement on the veto of Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDAB) legislation in Virginia: “BIO applauds Governor Spanberger’s decision to veto SB 271 and HB 483 — legislation that would have established a Prescription …
05/21/2026
Virginia Bio Applauds Governor Spanberger’s Veto of SB 271 and HB 483
The Virginia Biotechnology Association (Virginia Bio) today expressed strong support for Governor Abigail Spanberger’s decision to veto Senate Bill 271 and House Bill 483, legislation that would have established a Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel (PDAAP) in the Commonwealth. Virginia Bio and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce sent a joint letter to Governor Spanberger commending …
05/21/2026
New Global Clinical Society to Bring Focused Ultrasound Into Mainstream Medicine
The Focused Ultrasound Foundation today announced the launch of the International Focused Ultrasound Society (IFUS), a new organization dedicated to advancing clinical practice and accelerating adoption of focused ultrasound – a revolutionary, noninvasive therapeutic technology. Established as a program of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, IFUS aggregates and expands the Foundation’s activities related to clinical implementation …
“Robert is a proven industry leader with extensive and highly relevant experience in Ophthalmology and DED,” said Anil Asrani, President and CEO of TearSolutions. “I am genuinely excited and honored to have Robert join our board, as we work together to bring next generation therapeutics to patients suffering from the maladies associated with ocular surface disease.”
“I’m thrilled to work closely with the TearSoultions team to help advance their programs and take the Company to the next level,” said Robert Dempsey. “With their lead product’s highly differentiated and well-characterized mechanism of action, human clinical data illustrating speed of relief, safety, and a best-in-class tolerability profile, as well as the potential to work in a majority of patients, I believe we have a novel disease-modifying solution that can bring much needed relief to patients as well as their treating physicians.”
Robert brings more than two decades of domestic and global leadership experience in the Ophthalmology space driving successful drug development in public and private sectors through efficient organizational structure and capital investments. His widespread experience in Ophthalmology stems from diverse leadership roles across commercial, business development, medical affairs, and venture-backed startups. Currently, Robert serves as the Chief Executive Officer at AsclepiX Therapeutics focused on advancing an integrin regulating peptide for posterior segment diseases and recently led a successful Series A-3 financing. He joined Asclepix in 2021, after serving as the Chief Executive Officer for TearClear where he accelerated the business and commercial strategies including a successful Series B financing and positive FDA engagements. Prior to that, he served as the Global Head of Ophthalmology at Shire, then Takeda, responsible for one of the top ten largest biopharma M&A deals in 2019, the divestiture of Xiidra® (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, to Novartis in June 2019 for up to $5.3B.