Almost three in four of all Mainers are now fully vaccinated. That includes 97% of our particularly vulnerable seniors. And as of last week, all adults are now eligible to receive a booster.

That’s thanks to American companies and the talent they attract, who lead the world in biopharmaceutical innovation. In some ways, it was inevitable that they’d be the ones to make history with treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. All manner of ailments, known and unknown, will surely be cured by American scientists in the years ahead.

That is, so long as the right policies are in place.

As part of the Build Back Better Act, congressional lawmakers are considering a measure that would impose price controls on branded prescription medicines. That would cripple the innovation that led to the creation of the COVID-19 vaccines — and prevent even more life-changing treatments and cures from ever reaching patients across Maine.

Let’s recall the tremendous speed with which American companies developed the COVID-19 inoculations. It was only in December 2019 that the danger from a new coronavirus became known. Yet a mere six weeks after the virus’s genetic sequence became public, U.S. biotech Moderna developed its vaccine. Pfizer, through its partnership with BioNTech, moved almost as quickly.

The technology behind these companies’ shots uses messenger RNA — “mRNA” — that instructs the body to make specific proteins. This technique is now being tested in studies to treat heart disease, cancer, and HIV, and shows promise to treat countless other conditions.

Yet, our lawmakers may get in the way of these potential miracles.

On Nov. 19, the House passed the BBBA, which includes a provision that would remove the “non-interference” clause in Medicare’s prescription drug benefit. Currently, the clause prohibits the government from interfering in negotiations between drug makers and the insurers participating in Medicare. But if the bill makes it through the Senate and to the president’s desk, the clause will be lifted, allowing the government to begin setting prices on an increasing number of drugs each year.

Price controls would make it nearly impossible for companies to raise the funds needed to research and develop new medicines. After all, in order to attract investment capital, companies must offer the promise of a return.

Changing that equation would be devastating for patients, especially those living with conditions that don’t yet have effective treatments, like ALS or Alzheimer’s. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Maine is among the highest in the United States, with 180 out of every 100,000 people afflicted, according to 2015 data. There’s currently no cure for those patients, either.

The rapid COVID-19 vaccine development proved that medical innovation can contend with even the most terrifying health threats.

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have long championed patients — and long tried to work with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. As the BBBA makes its way through the Senate, I hope they stand strong for Maine patients — and oppose any efforts to undermine scientists’ ability to innovate.

Nick Murray is a policy analyst at Maine Policy Institute, a free-market think tank based in Portland.