Moolenaar Probes Eli Lilly's 220 China Trials Over PLA and Xinjiang Risks
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 30
Moolenaar Probes Eli Lilly's 220 China Trials Over PLA and Xinjiang Risks
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 30
Summary
John Moolenaar demanded Eli Lilly turn over records by July 17 on China clinical trials tied to PLA-linked hospitals and Xinjiang sites, escalating a House probe into pharma research risks.
Public records cited by the committee show Lilly has sponsored or collaborated on more than 220 China studies since 2003, including at least 16 involving military medical centers and 11 involving Xinjiang hospitals.
The letter says those trials could expose sensitive biotech research, medical data and intellectual property to China while raising questions about informed consent and possible coercion in Xinjiang.
Lilly's China footprint has kept expanding, with roughly $3 billion announced this year for manufacturing and local supply and partnerships worth up to $8.8 billion with Innovent and about $3 billion with Haisco.
The Lilly inquiry follows the committee's earlier June 30 letters to MSD, AbbVie and Bristol Myers Squibb, widening congressional scrutiny of U.S. drugmakers' China trial networks.
Can US initiatives reclaim leadership in drug research from China's faster, cheaper clinical trials?
Will banning data from Chinese clinical trials delay life-saving medicines for American patients?
With new US tariffs and security probes, is the era of profitable US-China pharma partnerships ending?
Biosecure Act Reshapes U.S. Biopharma: $41.5B in China Deals, National Security Fears, and the Race for Domestic Innovation
Overview
Congressional scrutiny of U.S. biopharmaceutical companies’ activities in China has intensified, especially after House lawmakers raised concerns about collaborations with the Chinese military on clinical trials. This led to a bipartisan letter sent to the FDA, which has promised a direct response. In reaction to these concerns, the Biosecure Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in late 2025. The Act, included in the National Defense Authorization Act, broadly restricts federal agencies from doing business with non-U.S. biotechnology companies, especially those considered companies of concern or using their equipment, marking a significant shift in regulatory policy.