Washington and Pharma Are Helping China Win | Opinion
Summary
Senator Debbie Stabenow warns that China is gaining a strong position in developing new medicines by running fast, low-cost clinical trials. She urges the U.S. government to stop relying on drug testing done in China and to limit American investments there to protect U.S. healthcare and technology.Key Facts
- China runs drug trials much faster and cheaper than the U.S., partly due to government support and lower rules for safety and ethics.
- Many clinical trials happen in Chinese military hospitals and areas with known human rights abuses.
- The FDA currently accepts Chinese trial data without inspecting how it was done, encouraging companies to test drugs in China.
- Transferring medicine development to China risks losing U.S. control over future treatments and important medical knowledge.
- Congress passed the COINS Act to limit U.S. investments in sensitive Chinese tech areas; similar controls should apply to pharmaceuticals.
- Senator Stabenow says the U.S. should act quickly to bring drug testing back home and restore strong leadership at the FDA.
- China used a similar approach to take the lead in electric vehicle manufacturing after acquiring U.S. industry knowledge.
- Without action, U.S. dependence on China for medicines could become a strategic weakness.
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