I had stage-III lung cancer, and I’m alive today because of a medical miracle.
So when both chambers of Congress passed patent-reform bills this year to streamline U.S. patent law with overwhelming, bipartisan support, including Congressman Cory Gardner, I was thrilled. Now patent reform must be signed into law by President Barack Obama.
America is facing so many challenges at home and abroad, so why is patent reform a priority? Two reasons: (1) It is critical to our nation’s economic competitiveness, and (2) your life may depend on it.
A stronger U.S. patent system is crucial to our global economic competitiveness in all industries, especially in medical innovation. With a streamlined patent system, American inventors will have the incentives and protections necessary to drive innovation, create jobs and stimulate the economy.
Like Washington, Colorado is a leader in critical, knowledge-based industries. If these important patent laws aren’t modernized, our states will be hit hard.
Colorado’s biomedical sector is a prime example of what’s at stake. Supporting more than 67,000 jobs in the state, this sector strengthens Colorado’s economy and develops drugs that save lives every day – as I know from experience.
In March 2009 I was diagnosed with stage-III lung cancer. I had never smoked and was playing soccer and lacrosse a week before I got the bad news.
After I underwent chemotherapy and radiation the plan was to remove my left lung, but when doctors found the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, they stopped. I was told I would have to wait and see if the initial round of therapy had killed the cancer.
Meanwhile, the cancer had taken a terrible toll on my body. I was constantly fatigued; walking up stairs left me exhausted. Along with a constant cough and chest pains, I also lost my voice (in which, admittedly, my family saw some benefit).
Like so many others, I wasn’t satisfied with just waiting. I started doing research online and worked with my doctors at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to look at alternative treatments. That’s how I found out about a clinical trial for a new drug therapy that I thought I might qualify for.
I learned that the University of Colorado Hospital was one of seven centers around the world at the time where a pharmaceutical company was developing a drug that would inhibit a cancer-promoting gene mutation from producing more cancerous cells. After a review of a sample of my cancer cells, I learned that I qualified for the drug trial.
I was born in Denver and have family in Colorado, and I needed the best advanced care, so I came back to Denver for treatment.
I started taking pills twice a day and, within a week, my symptoms had dissipated. By the second week my voice returned and by the third week I was jogging again with my wife. That was a year and a half ago. I get scanned regularly, and there is no sign the cancer has returned.
I am fortunate to be alive, and my story was possible because of decades of scientific research. The enormous investment American innovators make in research and development produces stories like mine all over the world.
But to make miracles like this happen, biomedical companies require the predictability and fairness in U.S. patent law that reform will bring.
Patent reform will unleash new job potential because research and development are huge generators of jobs and innovation. Colorado can benefit from just this type of development.
To do so, it’s crucial for patent-reform legislation to be signed into law by President Obama this year. Supporting American innovators will unleash the potential for jobs and life-saving therapies that our country needs.
Denver native Andy Hill now lives in Redmond, Wash., and is a member of the Washington State Senate.
Editor’s note: This is an online-only guest commentary. It has not been edited.
