House Committee Requests FBI Briefing on GenScript’s China Influence

The U.S. House of Representatives committee on China has requested a briefing from the FBI and the intelligence community regarding GenScript Biotechnology Co and three of its subsidiaries to investigate potential influence by the Chinese Communist Party over their operations.

In a letter dated May 30 addressed to the FBI and the U.S. office of the director of national intelligence, committee chair John Moolenaar and ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed concerns about GenScript’s collaborations with U.S. companies and government, citing potential risks to the intellectual property of U.S. firms and the enhancement of China’s biotech capabilities.

The letter specifically mentioned three subsidiaries: Bestzyme, Legend Biotech, and ProBio.

Legend, a drugmaker, partnered with Johnson & Johnson in 2017 to develop the cancer cell therapy Carvykti, with sales of $500 million last year and projected annual sales exceeding $5 billion.

A GenScript spokesperson stated that the company, founded in New Jersey, does not take direction from any government and is willing to engage with the House committee. Legend, J&J, and the subsidiaries did not respond to requests for comments.

According to its website, GenScript is a pharmaceutical research and manufacturing service provider with a global presence in sales, manufacturing, and research and development in China, the U.S., Europe, and the Asia Pacific.

This congressional interest in GenScript follows the approval of a bill by another House committee aimed at restricting business with Chinese biotech companies like WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics BGI, MGI, and Complete Genomics. If passed, the bill would encourage U.S. pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to reduce their reliance on Chinese research and manufacturing.

The lawmakers expressed concerns about GenScript’s role in advancing China’s biotech capabilities through services like custom gene synthesis production, emphasizing potential risks to U.S. firms’ intellectual property.