US Drugmakers Are Dependent on Chinese Supply Chains
Analysts warn a disruption in Chinese sources of common antibiotics or blood thinners could leave American patients with no reliable alternative.
Many of the most widely used generic drugs in the United States rely on China's upstream production chemistry, leaving limited backup suppliers in case access is disrupted, according to a report by former U.S. government officials. This vulnerability is gaining attention as Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. on September 24, the first such trip by a Chinese leader to the U.S. capital in over a decade.
The visit is expected to focus on artificial intelligence and trade tensions, but the dependence of U.S. pharmaceuticals on Chinese supply chains could pose coercive risks, similar to those Beijing has used in other sectors. China currently supplies more than 70 percent of antibiotic active ingredients imported into the U.S. by volume, and three common outpatient antibiotics – amoxicillin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin – depend on Chinese-made ingredients.
A single company, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, produces two of these drugs, leaving no alternative supply if disrupted. Penicillin, a common antibiotic, is now produced exclusively in China, with only 10 percent of global production occurring domestically. Heparin, a widely used blood thinner, is also largely dependent on Chinese sources, leaving roughly 550,000 Americans who rely on it for dialysis without alternatives.
Hydrocortisone, essential for treating inflammation, is manufactured in the U.S. but relies on a Chinese supplier for its active ingredients. The FDA discovered hydrogen cyanide contamination in these shipments in 2015, highlighting the potential for public health crises. Industrial policy in China aims to boost biomanufacturing, and the country now dominates a growing number of product categories.
U.S. pharmaceutical companies lack transparency about their supply chain exposures to hostile markets like China, and current regulations do not require them to disclose the origins of active pharmaceutical ingredients or key starting materials. Experts call for greater accountability from both agencies and the pharmaceutical industry to address these national security concerns.
Written by urgent.news from The Diplomat's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
