On March 6^th, legislation that aims to prevent foreign adversaries from stealing sensitive American genetic data and personal health information advanced in the Senate. The U.S. homeland security committee voted 11-1 to move draft legislation forward to approve a bill that could restrict business with Chinese biotech companies, such as BGI Group and WuXi AppTec, citing serious national security risk posed due to their significant ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
 
The bill would need to pass the full Senate and the House, and then signed by the president. The bill is designed to keep Americans’ personal health and genetic information from foreign adversaries.  
 
WuXi AppTec generates more than half of its sales from its U.S. operations and has facilities in Georgia, Pennsylvania and California, as well as a new campus in Delaware, as reported by Reuters. If passed, the bill could impact supply chain for U.S. biotech companies including drug supply for diabetes and weight loss drugs, among others.
 
The bill would prohibit federal agencies from contracting with China’s BGI, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, their affiliates and other biotechnology companies deemed of concern. It would also stop the government from entering contracts with companies that use their equipment or services, as reported by Reuters.
 
WuXi AppTec is a global CDMO that provides R&D and manufacturing services to the pharma, biopharma, and healthcare industry.

Read More: U.S. Lawmakers Seek Sanctions on WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics

Peters & Hagerty Bipartisan Legislation to Protect American Genetic Data From Foreign Adversaries Passes Committee