BIOSECURE Act Update Offers Biotech Companies Eight Years to Divest Contracts With Firms Of ‘Concern’

But that clock is already ticking as the House Oversight and Accountability Committee prepares to mark-up the bill and a likely reconciliation effort with the Senate looming.

USA v China — The BIOSECURE Act update follows what a pharma trade group said was the time needed to fully decouple from biotech companies of concern. • Source: Shutterstock

Many biotech firms would have nearly eight years to unwind contracts with questionable foreign firms under a new version of the BIOSECURE Act, a dramatic shift from earlier drafts that is a likely nod to industry’s requests and the reality of business.

The House bill would prevent US government agencies from obtaining equipment or services from a “biotechnology company of concern,”...