Revised US Biotech Bill Could Offer WuXi, China Firms a Reprieve

Chinese biotechnology companies may get an eight-year reprieve from a proposed US law that was poised to disrupt the global supply chain for pharmaceuticals.

A revised version of the Biosecure Act, which is aimed at curtailing Chinese influence in the US, will give drug companies until Jan. 1, 2032, to decouple from biotech companies “of concern.” Until then, the rules won’t apply to contracts with some companies that were in place at least 60 days before the regulations were issued.

The draft would give companies named in the bill like WuXi AppTec Co. years to revamp their operations to reduce ...