Texan, Houstonian: how and why Hope’s location shapes our work and your access

By Jan Shultis, Ph.D.

In part one of a three-part series about what Hope Biosciences’ location means to you, we discussed how the decision to headquarter in the United States (U.S.) affects manufacturing standards at Hope Biosciences and patient access to cellular therapeutics. Click here to read the piece, if you missed it – in making your healthcare decisions, it is useful to how and why industry standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) shape your interaction with cellular therapeutics, and why Hope Biosciences is committed to the highest global standards. Today’s conversation, about why being in Texas and in Houston matter, is part two of three.  

Within the U.S., headquartering in Texas further influences your healthcare experience. “Location, location, location” isn’t only about waterfront views, although we are delighted to have those, too. In cellular manufacturing, our geographical location widens logistical options to and for people in need; carries legal implications for patient access to investigational technologies; and supports shipping reach to hospitals, academic institutions, and research organizations throughout the U.S. and in other countries.

Waterfront! Team members enjoying the back porch at Hope Bio's headquarters.

Proud to be Texan and Houstonian

Everything’s bigger in Texas, the saying goes, and it holds true for the biotech industry, making choosing Texas a clear choice for Hope Biosciences upon founding in 2016. The Governor’s Office touts the state’s accomplishments in building and retaining a talented workforce, including supporting more Tier 1 research universities than any other state). The talent pipeline means life science professionals with doctoral level education and/or robust lab experience are plentiful, as is the outlook for continuing to develop the next generation of scientists. Texas is widely lauded for fiscally friendly laws that attract businesses. The Texas Economic Development Council reports biotech in the state is a $95 billion sector, and elaborates on considerations such as robust transportation and shipping infrastructure that help get products to patients easily. Perhaps lesser known, but also influential, is the climate of inquiry – independent organizations that track data from clinicaltrials.gov find Texas second annually only to California in volume of clinical trials conducted across all four FDA-authorized phases and in an array of conditions. Major cities such as Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston, and city clusters such as San Antonio and Austin, all feature strong and growing biotech hubs; that is, geographical regions where shared resources of time, talent, and other resources necessary to support this unique industry are deliberately located together and cultivated to support increasing innovation and long-term presence.

Our chosen home, Houston, is noteworthy for housing the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical complex in the world. Proximity to TMC can be a factor in identifying areas of community need and successfully recruiting patients for clinical trials, especially in the rare and ultra rare disease conditions with small patient populations Hope Bio frequently works in. Houston’s multiple airports, including one international, also opens access to people in need on both the east and west U.S. coasts.

For further reading, check out a 2026 report by Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI) report entitled “Texas Life Sciences: Driving Innovation, Patient Care and Economic Growth, A Strategic Vision for Advancing the Texas Life Science Ecosystem.” THBI is a 30-year-old, member-based organization headquartered in Austin, Texas, whose stated mission is to “develop and advocate policies and actions that promote biomedical science, biotechnology, agriculture and medical device innovation in Texas.”

Patient access to cellular therapeutics in Texas

Of great import in cellular therapeutics, which are overwhelmingly investigative in the U.S. (i.e., awaiting and working toward FDA approval for prescription use and/or insurance coverage) are patient access laws in Texas. The state’s legal and regulatory environment consistently demonstrates commitment to increasing availability of promising biologics to people in need in thoughtful, determined ways.

A nationwide “first” occurred in Texas in 2017 with the passage of “Charlie’s Law” (HB 810) by the state’s 85^th legislative session. Charlie’s Law authorizes severe or terminally ill patients who meet certain criteria to access experimental cellular therapeutics made from adult stem cell and stem cell products through a “Right to Try” regulatory framework. Charlie’s Law creates a specific, state-authorized regulatory pathway for patients with severe or terminal conditions to access adult cellular therapeutics. The Texas law precedes federal Right to Try legislation enacted in 2018, which applies comprehensively to investigational drugs, biologics, and devices for qualifying individuals nationwide. In 2019, the state Legislature passed HB 3148 during their 86^th session, which further articulated administrative requirements for administration of Right to Try under Charlie’s Law, heavily focused on the role of Institutional Review Boards and patient protections.

“Charlie’s Law” is named for late State Representative Charlie Howard, who served in the legislature as a representative of the Sugar Land area (where Hope Biosciences is located) from 1995-2013. Rep. Howard passed away from cancer in 2017, one month before the bill bearing his name was passed and enacted. Conceived and sponsored by Rep. Tan Parker, who openly shares the personal story of his wife’s chronic illness history, the bill passed unanimously.

https://youtu.be/Epf9uxP36Ww?si=qX4NuFi9cT_jvHWC

State laws build upon but do not supersede federal access laws, which require all therapeutics registered as biologics to be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some states have put into place authorization or disclosure laws, but many have neither and rely on the federal framework alone. Though the federal Right to Try program now allows for access to adult cellular therapeutics, it is undeniable that states with additional access framework in place are significantly more friendly to cellular therapeutic manufacturers. As of this writing, states with notable stem cell specific laws include Florida, Wyoming, California, and Utah.

https://youtu.be/HYC6g6ynHLE?si=ZfATwaVGZs775Moe

Texas continues to take significant steps to expand access to regenerative therapies, including cellular therapeutics. In 2025, the Texas Legislature met for the 89^th session and unanimously passed SB 984, also referred to as “Right to Try 2.0” or “Right to Try for Individualized Treatments.” The update expands access by allowing patients with rare, ultra-rare, or life‑threatening conditions to access personalized biologics (i.e., products made for them based on their genetic profile) before those products have completed Phase 1 clinical trials. Phase I trials mark the point at which FDA allows a product to be used in humans, making them a vital safety point. Many rare and ultra-rate conditions, however, are sufficiently medically complicated and have such a small population pool that makes clinical trials nearly impossible to execute under FDA’s current regulatory framework. Though SB 984 predominantly impacts products like gene‑editing and RNA‑based therapies, some interpretations might include cellular therapeutics. SB 984 also puts protections into place for physicians, hospitals, and other institutions who choose to recommend or administer investigational therapeutics falling into these categories, provided all parameters and processes outlined by the bill are met.

What does all of this talk about Texas mean for you? In a word – access. The state’s legal rulings continue to signal a strong, innovative climate focused on practical, thoughtful support for people in need. Hope Biosciences is proud to headquarter here, and to know that our choice to be here helps deliver hope to you and those you love.

Stay tuned for the third and final part of this series, which explains why, of all the dynamic biotech communities within Texas, we chose Sugar Land (or did it choose us?! Find out soon…)