Gottlieb warns against restricting in-licensing drugs from China

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb warned Friday that restrictions on in-licensing medicines from China could trigger an international IP “arms race,” undermining U.S. industry and public health. He is raising a red flag amid increasing enthusiasm in Washington for cutting ties to China, from restricting academic collaboration to weaning biopharmas off reliance on Chinese contract manufacturing and research.

Gottlieb, a partner at New Enterprise Associates, did not downplay the challenge posed by Chinese biopharma innovators. Scanning for Chinese competition, and abandoning deals for molecules that are under development in China, has become a routine feature of venture capital due diligence, he said. ...