Florida’s Rubio: Stop the Moderna & Chinese mRNA Deal

TrialSite recently reported on Moderna&rsquo;s deal with the Chinese government to research and manufacture novel mRNA medicines and vaccines. Importantly, the deal was termed exclusively only for the Chinese people. It&rsquo;s important to note that China classifies life sciences industry generally as a matter of national security. While China&rsquo;s biotech industry has made great strides with a modernization of regulations and a rapidly maturing life science-focused investment ecosystem, the country has tailed America and Europe when it comes to the development of mRNA technologies. Now, the latest Moderna deal is meant to change that.
But given growing geopolitical tensions between the United States and the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, was this deal a smart thing to do? Moderna is seeking to tap into and exploit the Chinese market for medicines and vaccines, the second biggest worldwide according to some sources. For its investors, Moderna's move makes sense.&nbsp;But let us not forget that Moderna&rsquo;s financial position now is far better thanks to U.S. government contracts both before, during and now, after the pandemic.&nbsp;The company went from money loser to highly profitable because of government contracts during COVID-19.