Aug. 12 P&P Quick Takes: China to implement ethics committee; plus Senators call for action on AveXis and FDA’s Fabry guidance

China planning national science, technology ethics committee
China’s central committee for deepening overall reform approved a plan to establish a national science and technology ethics committee. The government said the committee is meant to improve rules, management mechanisms and supervision of ethics in the science and technology fields. In May, Chinese bioethics professors called for increased top-down regulation of research ethics (see “Chinese Bioethicists Call for ‘Reboot’ of Regulations Following CRISPR Babies”).

Tax breaks for biopharmas in Shanghai free trade zone
China’s State Council said that within a new section of the Shanghai free trade zone, the Lingang New Area, companies focused on key industries including biomedicine will be granted a 15% business income tax for five years after their registration in the area. Under the national tax system, the business income tax rate is 25%. The government will also investigate methods to subsidize personal income taxes on overseas talent in the area...