Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
Ramaswamy loses Ohio governor’s race after biotech leaders criticize campaign ad
Vivek Ramaswamy lost Ohio’s governor’s race as Democratic support surged.
In the final days of the campaign, six biotech leaders urged him to withdraw an ad featuring the estranged mother of his opponent, Amy Acton.
Critics said the ad disregarded documented childhood trauma and the evidence-based standards expected in biotech; it had drawn criticism from both parties.
Ramaswamy defended the ad, despite the unusually pointed rebuke from an industry that helped make him famous.
His biotech record became part of the political scrutiny, including his founding of Roivant, which built a network of specialized drug developers.
One subsidiary, Axovant Sciences, raised hundreds of millions of dollars in a 2015 share sale to develop an Alzheimer’s drug whose earlier trials had not met their overall efficacy goals.
The case highlights the difference between raising money and proving a drug works, a distinction that matters when business success is presented as a political credential.
Vivek Ramaswamy lost Ohio’s governor’s race on Tuesday amid a surge of Democratic support.
In the final days before the election, six biotech leaders urged him to withdraw a television ad featuring the estranged mother of his opponent, Amy Acton.
The leaders argued that the ad ignored documented childhood trauma and breached the evidence-based standards of their industry.
The ad had drawn criticism from both parties, but Ramaswamy defended it.
The criticism came from an industry that had helped make Ramaswamy famous.
- Who
- Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate, lost to his opponent, Amy Acton.
- What
- Ramaswamy lost Ohio’s governor’s race after biotech leaders urged him to withdraw a campaign ad.
- When
- Tuesday. The article does not state the date.
- Where
- Ohio.
- Why
- The article says the loss came amid a surge of Democratic support. It also reports criticism of his ad, but does not say that the criticism caused his loss.
Biotech leaders criticizing the ad
Vivek Ramaswamy
Ad
Biotech leaders criticizing the ad
The leaders urged Ramaswamy to withdraw the television ad, saying it ignored documented childhood trauma and betrayed the evidence-based standards of their industry.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Ramaswamy defended the ad.
Roivant’s Axovant acquired the drug intepirdine from GlaxoSmithKline for $5 million upfront, plus potential later payments.
Axovant began enrolling patients in its pivotal phase 3 trial of intepirdine.
Six biotech leaders publicly urged Ramaswamy to withdraw his television ad.
Ramaswamy lost Ohio’s governor’s race.
- Candidate
- Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican
- Opponent
- Amy Acton
- Biotech leaders
- Six publicly urged Ramaswamy to withdraw the ad
- Ad
- Featured Acton’s estranged mother
- Election outcome
- Ramaswamy lost Ohio’s governor’s race
What people are saying
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