Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), a major American trade group, endorsed the Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act of 2024 (BIOSECURE Act), and announced that WuXi AppTec would exit the membership organization.
This news comes days after Rep Mike Gallagher (R-WI) wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland complaining that BIO was advocating against the legislation, on behalf of WuXi AppTec and other China-based members of the trade association.
“BIO’s advocacy on behalf of WuXi Apptec – intended to protect the company’s access and commercial ties in the United States despite the risk to U.S. national security – is aligned with the interests of the CCP and the People’s Republic of China government.” Mr. Gallagher wrote.
Wuxi AppTec is a Chinese company with close ties to the People's Liberation Army and Chinese Communist Party. The company operates genetic testing centers established to assist the CCP to identify and separate Uyghurs Muslims from other residents, a key pillar of the CCP’s genocide in the region
BIO counts among its members Chinese subsidiaries of Pharmacertucal firms AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Merce, Roche and Sandoz.
Legislation barring federally-funded medical providers from signing contracts with foreign adversary biotech companies has been introduced in both the Senate and the house of Representatives. [read our coverage]
Chinese biopharmaceutical companies, with their ability to harness China’s large population of patients to conduct time- and cost-efficient clinical trials play a vital role in the global pharmaceutical industry.
Text of the proposed legislation is available here.
BIO's Endorsement
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