A bill that would effectively force dozens of biopharma companies to cut ties with WuXi AppTec and four other Chinese biotech suppliers by 2032 advanced with bipartisan support in the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.
The 40-1 positive vote is a key step forward for a closely-watched bill that has a short timeline to cross the finish line. Both the House and Senate bills are now awaiting floor votes.
Under the House version of the bill, almost all biopharma companies doing business in the US would have until 2032 to transition away from five Chinese companies named in the bill. That includes BGI, WuXi AppTec and WuXi Biologics, the latter of which was added to the most recently updated version of the House bill from May 13.
Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) and bill co-sponsor Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) alleged during the markup that WuXi and BGI have partnered with the Chinese government on genetic testing centers targeting the Uyghur population.
Raja Krishnamoorthi“Why are we specifically naming these companies?” Krishnamoorthi asked. “First, BGI and WuXi have been found to be involved in the perpetration of human rights abuses, specifically the Uyghur genocide.”
Comer also said that WuXi has reportedly stolen intellectual property and shared it with the Chinese government. Reuters reported in March that WuXi shared a client’s IP with the Chinese government without permission, according to two sources.
Classified reports contain more on the allegations. Krishnamoorthi told Endpoints News in the hallway after he spoke at Wednesday’s hearing that there will be a classified briefing on the issue either later this week or next week.
“I can’t get into the classified reports,” Krishnamoorthi said, adding, “There are also reports of them stealing IP.” When asked if he could confirm those reports, he added, “Yes. This is not what we want.”
A WuXi AppTec spokesperson disputed the allegations, saying the company “does not have a human genomics business. WuXi AppTec is not involved in any genetic collection or testing of any ethnic group, neither in Xinjiang nor elsewhere.”
The spokesperson also denied that the company has transferred IP.
“WuXi AppTec is not aware of, would never approve, does not condone, and has a zero-tolerance policy against any attempt to mishandle or transfer a customer’s intellectual property to any unauthorized party. Neither the U.S. government nor any customer has brought any such allegation to our attention, and we have not been provided with any supporting evidence regarding such an allegation,” the spokesperson said.
BGI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.