Trump administration signaling intent to upend tech transfer policies that created biotech industry

Amid the effusive praise of President Donald Trump and a series of discussions of the nation’s economic performance, trade, energy, crime, drug pricing, and Taylor Swift’s engagement, many Americans probably failed to note an announcement at Monday’s televised cabinet meeting about patents. The lack of attention is unfortunate because the Trump administration seems to be considering policy changes that could upend one of the underpinnings of the life sciences industry: the transfer of intellectual property from universities to the private sector.  

About two hours into the meeting, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick segued from a promise to better support crypto currency — “because you are the crypto president and we are going to put our GDP on the blockchain” — to patents. ...