BIO CEO John Crowley said on June 24 that China’s efforts to become a leading biotech innovator have been effective, and the United States must act to eliminate 'inescapable dependencies' within the biotech ecosystem. Speaking at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, Crowley said, “It’s not like it’s a secret plan from the Chinese Communist Party. They’ve been very clear over multiple five-year plans now that they intend to be the world’s leading country in biotechnology, and they want it for the same reasons that we want to maintain and advance our lead.”
The recently enacted BIOSECURE Act restricts contracts with certain Chinese companies deemed of concern. WuXi AppTec was added by the Pentagon to a list of blacklisted organizations. The impact of this law on biopharma was a central topic at the BIO 2026 Convention.
Crowley addressed concerns about potential unintended consequences of these restrictions, saying, “I do worry about unintended consequences and effectiveness of trying to put bans in place. You worry about, frankly, distraction from the real issues, which is, how do we outcompete? How do we reform our system to be more competitive?”
He acknowledged China's achievements but emphasized vigilance: “They’ve provided very great science, great services. We need to make sure, though, that we don’t fall into the trap of what they’re trying to create, which are these inescapable dependencies, where more and more we become dependent.”
Crowley also discussed ethical considerations around restricting access: “The ethical concerns of trying to restrict access to what could be life-saving technology.” He said BIO is working closely with government agencies regarding implementation of BIOSECURE measures.
“I will tell you, in my years in Washington, I have never seen as bipartisan an issue of this,” Crowley said. “We need to advance, maintain our lead here.”
