STAT+: Federal commission calls for $15 billion in new biotech funding to counter China’s rise
A federal commission is calling for $15 billion in new financing to re-enforce the United States’ biotech leadership amid encroaching competition from China.
A federal commission is calling for $15 billion in new financing to reinforce the United States’ biotech leadership amid encroaching competition from China.
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology was created by Congress in 2022 to explore how biotechnology advancements could shape the economy and national security. The group quickly turned its attention to China —Federal officials have voiced concerns for several years that the Chinese government is gathering Americans’ genetic information and intellectual property through biotech companies, leading to legislation like the BIOSECURE Act. At the same time, Chinese researchers and companies have been making their own strides.
The final report released Tuesday includes close to 50 recommendations to protect U.S. biotech intellectual property and bolster drug development, agriculture, and biological weapons defense. The commission doesn’t have the power to authorize any changes but can make recommendations and advise members of Congress.
