Ginkgo CEO Urges US to Block $60 Billion in China Biotech Deals, Invest in Automation
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · May 31
Ginkgo CEO Urges US to Block $60 Billion in China Biotech Deals, Invest in Automation
1 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · May 31
$60 billion flowed into Chinese drug molecules in the first three months of 2026 alone, prompting Ginkgo Bioworks CEO Jason Kelly to press Washington to bar future U.S.-China biotech licensing deals.
Kelly argues U.S. biotech cannot match China on labor costs and should instead speed early trials and back automated labs; Ginkgo says its Nebula platform can deliver 10-fold more research output per square foot.
The push comes as China’s share of the global drug pipeline has climbed from 8% a decade ago to more than 40% in 2025, while U.S. share fell below 35%, according to a JAMA analysis.
Kelly wants biotech added to the COINS restrictions list, a step backed by seven Republican lawmakers, but drug lobby PhRMA and some investors say the U.S. should compete by improving domestic conditions rather than banning deals.
The debate is intensifying as Boston biotech weakens—lab vacancy is nearing 30% and Massachusetts biotech jobs have fallen year over year for the first time in two decades—while Ginkgo itself bets its turnaround on selling automation.
Can AI and automated labs reverse America's scientific decline and win the global biotech race?
As US drug reliance on China soars, must America choose between affordable medicine and national security?
U.S. Biotech at a $60 Billion Crossroads: China Investment Surge, COINS Act Expansion, and the Automation Race for Global Leadership
Overview
The U.S. biotech industry is at a turning point, driven by a surge in investment in Chinese drug assets and a heated debate over China’s growing influence in global pharmaceuticals. This wave of spending—about $60 billion in just the first quarter of 2026—signals a dramatic shift, with U.S. firms increasingly relying on Chinese drugs for their speed and cost advantages. As China emerges as a major disruptor, the industry faces a deep divide over the risks and benefits of these partnerships, highlighting a critical moment of change and uncertainty for America’s drug business.