In a rare display of bipartisan agreement, Congress is getting serious about addressing China’s influence in key industries. This spring’s “TikTok ban” is the most obvious example of this effort. Legislation currently under debate would extend these same principles to the life sciences sector, with major implications and opportunities for the country.
The BIOSECURE Act would prohibit many biotech and pharmaceutical companies from conducting certain research and development activities, including the manufacturing of drugs through named Chinese companies. On Monday, an updated version of the bill passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. Notably, a number of representatives with expertise in health care and the life sciences ultimately voted against the legislation. The Senate is expected to take up a slightly different version later this year.
BIOSECURE proponents argue that allowing the Chinese Communist Party access to U.S. patient information is a national security concern, as is the overreliance on China for drug development. They aren’t wrong. Protecting that information and being able to make our own medicines should be a national priority.
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