The House is planning to vote on the closely-watched Biosecure Act at the start of next month, the latest progression in efforts to rein in the influence of key China-based drug manufacturers.
The vote, included in a batch of other China-focused legislation, is slated for the week of Sept. 9, according to four sources familiar with the planning. Bloomberg earlier reported the expected timing of the votes on Friday, citing an email from House leadership to the Republican caucus sent on Thursday.
The legislation would force biopharma companies to cut ties or restrict their work with WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics and three genetic sequencing companies by 2032. Both WuXi companies have become go-to drug manufacturers for biotechs big and small. In June, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pledged a vote this year on the bill as part of his China-related legislative priorities.
A month earlier, the House Oversight Committee advanced the bill with near-unanimous support, including the 2032 grandfather clause. The addition of the provision was heralded as a win by leadership of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, which flipped its stance earlier this year to support the bill, looking to rally behind growing bipartisan support for national security. The industry lobbying group says the clause will allow a necessary window for startups to find new manufacturers, though some companies believe the legislation is creating unnecessary scientific disruptions.
What’s unknown is how much of the House bill will be maintained should it pass, with the Senate considering its own version. That bill was voted out of committee in March but has not been debated on the floor or been brought to a vote.