Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand FDA Inquiry into Clinical Trials in China

A bipartisan coalition of U.S. lawmakers has issued a critical letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seeking detailed information regarding clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Pfizer in China. The lawmakers express concern that these trials, which took place at medical facilities linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), may have involved participants coerced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in regions accused of human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims. The representatives assert that U.S. biopharmaceutical companies could be inadvertently benefiting from data obtained through these trials, where patients may have been forced to participate. They emphasize the potential risks of sensitive data being accessible to the CCP, raising alarms about the implications for U.S. national security. The letter specifically requests clarification from FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf regarding the agency's oversight of these trials, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), where allegations of genocide have been made. Members of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, including Reps. Moolenaar, Dunn, and Krishnamoorthi, are particularly vocal about the need for the FDA to enhance its role in safeguarding U.S. interests. They highlight the challenges of securing sensitive data generated from trials conducted at military-affiliated hospitals. The committee is set to vote on legislation in September aimed at suspending contracts with Chinese biotech firms deemed a national security threat. Eli Lilly and Pfizer have been contacted for comments, with Lilly reaffirming its commitment to intellectual property protections and rigorous partner assessments to ensure compliance with research and data privacy standards.