US weighs strict curbs on drug imports from China, targeting supply and data

The Trump administration is reportedly discussing plans to impose strict restrictions on pharmaceutical imports from China, according to The New York Times.

The report noted a draft executive order under consideration threatens to cut off the supply of experimental therapies from China. The proposed order would require increased domestic production in the United States of certain classes of drugs deemed to be largely manufactured in China.

The draft also includes measures to impose stricter scrutiny on deals where US pharmaceutical companies acquire rights to experimental drugs from Chinese firms. 

Another proposed policy would discourage reliance on clinical trial data from Chinese patients by subjecting such data to more rigorous FDA review and imposing higher regulatory fees, according to the report.