That statement assumes the author has seen the entire universe, inspected everything in it closely enough to make such a bold and sweeping statement.
I think what the author is implying is that there is Zero evidence that life exists anywhere else in the universe. As far as the 'possibility' of life existing elsewhere, anybody's guess is as good as anyone elses.
Of course, first you have to guess if there are "beings" who share the human concept, "existence" (which, of course, would be necessary for them to be "beings" in the first place). If that is possible (and it could be) then they would need to share the concepts, "time", "space", and "life". If all those chips fell in perfect order, it would then be a remote possibility that we humans and those "beings" could become aware of each other in some way IF they also share any senses with humans (sight, hearing, touch, smell). Since there could be an infinite number of senses, I would think the possibility of mutual awareness is slim to none, and Slim left town. In fact, I suspect the earth is teeming with "beings" that share no senses with humans at all, and we will therefore never make "contact" with them, either.
And as for "beings" who may "exist" on planets many light years away?
LOL.. no, there will be no "contact".