The House Select Committee on China has launched an investigation into the growing ties between U.S. pharmaceutical companies and China, citing national security, intellectual property, and human rights risks.
The committee is seeking records from Eli Lilly as it expands its investments and research partnerships in China, with lawmakers warning that clinical research conducted at Chinese military-affiliated hospitals and in Xinjiang, China, could pose significant risks.
Committee chairman Moolenaar stressed that there is currently no evidence that Lilly has engaged in illegal activity or wrongdoing, but argued that conducting clinical trials in China, particularly in Xinjiang and at military-affiliated hospitals, could grant access to valuable biotechnology research and data.
The United States is engaged in a fierce biotechnology competition with China, with implications for national security, economic competitiveness, and the protection of Americans' medical data, Moolenaar wrote in a letter to Lilly.
China has transformed itself into one of the world's fastest and least expensive places to conduct early-stage human drug trials through regulatory reforms, state subsidies, and rapid patient enrollment, making it increasingly attractive for global drug development.
However, the committee argues that this speed has raised concerns about ethics, data security, and intellectual property, particularly in regions like Xinjiang, where allegations of forced medical testing and DNA collection have been documented by human rights organizations.
The committee is questioning whether China's clinical trial system adequately protects participants' rights, citing research suggesting many participants misunderstand the experimental nature of drug studies or mistakenly believe treatments have already been proven effective.
Moolenaar has given Lilly until July 17 to provide documents detailing its due diligence procedures, inspections of clinical trial sites, agreements with Chinese companies, and safeguards for protecting sensitive data and intellectual property.
