Biotech companies pen letter in opposition to Trump immigration ban

Bosses of over 160 biotech companies in the US have joined the clamour against President Donald Trump's signing of an executive order, preventing the access of citizens from seven states into the country, citing its "deep concern" about the measure in a letter.

The letter, which was coordinated by former chief executive of Teva Jeremy Levin and signed by the chief executives of various other biotech firms, points out that more than half of biomedical researchers working in the US were not born there.

It is not the first such letter to be written opposing the travel ban on immigrants from the predominantly Muslim countries, with over 100 US tech giants filing a legal opposition to the ban, including Google, Facebook and Apple.

Trump's order has been temporarily prevented after a legal challenge from Washington state, but an appeal from the Department of Justice is currently being heard in San Francisco.

"We the undersigned, founders and leaders of biotech companies, write to express our deep concern and opposition to the executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2017, barring the entry of citizens from seven countries into the United States," the letter from the biotech companies read.

"At a stroke, the new administration has compromised years of investment... Our colleagues who are here on visas or are in global outposts are now fearful and uncertain of their status. Scientists based in other countries and employed by our companies are afraid to come to the United States or are cancelling trips."

The President has consistently criticised the pharma industry, having taken issue with the high prices of drugs in the US. In a press conference ahead of his inauguration, Trump said pharma companies were "getting away with murder".