The U.S. Senate’s homeland security committee has voted 11-1 in favor of the Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act of 2024, a bill that seeks to curb the operations of Chinese research service providers, including BGI and WuXi AppTec (SHA: 603259, HKG: 2359), within the U.S. The legislation, introduced by Senators Gary Peters and Bill Hagerty, is designed to prevent biotechnology companies owned or controlled by a foreign adversary’s government from accessing U.S. genetic information through federal contracts, grants, and loans. The bill singles out BGI Group (BGI), MGI, Complete Genomics, and WuXi AppTec, along with their subsidiaries, for posing a significant national security risk due to their ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
The proposed legislation includes provisions for an annual review to identify new or existing companies attempting to evade the ban through corporate restructuring. Companies identified as a “company of concern” would have the opportunity to appeal the designation. Additionally, the bill allows for current contracts to be fulfilled before the ban takes effect, aiming to minimize disruptions to the pharmaceutical supply chain.
For the bill to become law, it must clear votes in both the full Senate and House, potentially undergoing significant revisions, before presidential approval. With no set timeline for the Senate to consider the bill, the legislative process could extend for years.
The development is a significant setback for BGI and WuXi AppTec, with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) cautioning the Senate about the potential for industry disruption. WuXi AppTec, for instance, derives over 50% of its revenue from U.S. clients and partners with 19 of the world’s top-20 pharmaceutical companies, including the manufacturing of ingredients for Eli Lilly’s Zepbound/Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
BIO’s advocacy has also come under scrutiny, with Congressman Mike Gallagher requesting an investigation into BIO’s lobbying efforts on behalf of WuXi AppTec. Gallagher’s letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, dated March 5, 2024, raises concerns about BIO operating as an unregistered foreign agent and seeks clarification on whether BIO’s activities violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). BIO has denied the allegations.
Endpoints News also reports that the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Select Committee on the CCP are scheduled to hold additional hearings on March 7, 2024, to discuss further anti-China legislation. The focus will be on preventing companies from transferring data, including clinical trial data, to China and other countries.- Flcube.com
