US House Committee Launches National Security Probe into Merck and AbbVie China Drug Trials

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has opened a national security investigation into the clinical trials conducted by Merck and AbbVie in China. The inquiry, led by Representative John Moolenaar, focuses on trials performed in the Xinjiang region and at Chinese military hospitals, raising questions about data protection, informed consent, and the potential transfer of advanced biotechnology to foreign military entities.

In letters dated June 30, the committee requested that Merck and AbbVie submit detailed information by July 17. The request asks for documentation of due diligence, data‑protection processes, and ethical standards at each trial site. Merck disclosed that it has sponsored or collaborated on 224 studies in China since 2005, including at least 31 in Xinjiang and 40 at military‑affiliated hospitals. AbbVie reported more than 100 studies since 2007, with at least 17 in Xinjiang and 16 at military centers. Both companies were asked to clarify how they ensure patient safety and ethical integrity.

Merck responded that patient safety and ethical integrity are top priorities and that it adheres to global guidelines. AbbVie declined to comment on the matter. The Chinese embassy in the United States dismissed the investigation as unfounded, asserting that there is “nothing credible” in the committee’s concerns. Nonetheless, the letters highlight the broader issue of documented lapses in securing informed consent from participants in Xinjiang, a region widely criticized for human‑rights abuses.

The investigation reflects a larger shift in the global biotech landscape. By 2024, the United States’ share of early‑stage drug development fell to roughly 37 % of global trials, while China’s share rose to over 32 %, up from just 8 % in 2015. The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology warned that China has built a vertically integrated biotech ecosystem capable of challenging US leadership. The committee’s findings suggest that conducting research at Chinese military facilities could expose American intellectual property to foreign transfer, posing a strategic risk.

In response to these concerns, lawmakers are pursuing additional safeguards. Representative Moolenaar is sponsoring the Biotech Investment National Security Act, which would add biotech to a list of technologies subject to rigorous outbound investment review. The Biosecure Act, signed into law by the previous administration, already restricts federal agencies from engaging with non‑US biotech firms. Together, these measures aim to protect national security while upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity and human rights.

The committee’s probe underscores the importance of vigilance in international clinical research. By demanding transparency and stricter oversight, US lawmakers seek to ensure that American biotech advances are developed responsibly, ethically, and without compromising national security.