House Lawmakers Investigate U.S. Drug Trials with China

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has raised serious concerns over U.S. biopharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials with hospitals affiliated with the Chinese military, specifically the People's Liberation Army (PLA), for over a decade. The inquiry follows a letter sent to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, highlighting that these collaborations may compromise U.S. intellectual property and raise ethical issues, particularly regarding trials conducted in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where human rights abuses are reported. Lawmakers pointed to specific drug trials, including Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's medication and Pfizer's kidney cancer treatment, as examples of the troubling partnerships. They expressed doubts about the reliability of data generated from these trials, given the historical context of medical discrimination in the region. The committee's investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of China's role in biotechnology and its implications for U.S. national security. This situation underscores the increasing tension between the U.S. and China in the competitive biotech landscape.