Commit to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine - join us!
by RApport
RApport is an online communications hub for members of the biotech community to share ideas, problems, and solutions.
March 2, 2022
Like the rest of the world, our team has found ourselves consumed this week by the news of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We are outraged at this brazen challenge to Ukraine’s autonomous identity and horrified at the mounting loss of life among civilians and military members alike.
It’s not like us to sit in silence when something like this happens. We’ve been inspired by the courage of everyday Ukranians who have rallied together to defend themselves and the country they love. And we admire the brave Russian anti-war protestors who are risking their lives to stand up for peace. Even though we’re half a world away, as members of the global biotech ecosystem, we stand committed to doing what we can to demonstrate our support.
To that end, RA Capital Managing Partner Peter Kolchinsky has joined Jeremy Levin and Meg Alexander of Ovid Therapeutics, Paul Hastings of Nkarta Therapeutics, Ted Love of Global Blood Therapeutics, and John Maraganore of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in drafting an open letter of commitment to maximal economic disengagement from Russian industry and elites until there is a restoration of peace and Ukraine’s self-determination.
We’re serious about this, and we hope you are too. As Kolchinsky noted to our team, “The world is rapidly uniting around the idea that if we're ever to realize the promise of peace through global trade - if we're ever to retire war as a means of resolving disagreements by giving every country too much to lose economically - then when a country launches an unprovoked war, we have to impose the implied economic consequences of their actions.” To the extent that that is possible, the signers of this letter commit to do so.
Specifically, until Ukrainian sovereignty and peace is restored, all who sign pledge to:
Cease investment in Russian companies and new investment within the borders of Russia
Reject investment from Russian funds
Halt collaboration or service agreements with Russian companies
Except for food and medicines, halt trade in goods with Russian companies
The letter now has over 500 co-signers, meriting coverage in the Wall Street Journal, Biocentury, Biopharma Dive, the San Francisco Business Times, and Fierce Biotech. (Read through the signature list and we’re sure you’ll recognize many familiar names!) Though it’s geared toward business leaders, the letter is open to all who are willing to commit to these principles in their own sphere of influence. We invite each of you to join us by signing on and sharing the letter with others on social media. (There’s a link to do so via Google form at the end of the letter.)
Though this campaign started with leaders in biotech and the life sciences, we hope that’s not where it ends. We aim for leaders, employees, and customers of all sectors in the United States and elsewhere to join us in this pledge. Mass support will signal to the executives of larger businesses and industries that it’s time to raise their voices and act (like Apple did this week, egged on by Ukraine’s technology minister, Mykhailo Federov, who is pressuring tech companies like YouTube, Meta, and Tesla to intervene). BP, Shell, Equinor, General Motors, Daimler Truck, HSBC, AerCap, and others have already disengaged from Russia or announced plans to do so.
We can make a significant difference if we call for change together. And we will not stand by and do nothing. Add your voice to ours today.
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