05:57 PM EDT, 04/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with BeiGene's ( BGNE ) comment in the fourth paragraph.)

Western pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly ( LLY ) , Vertex Pharmaceuticals ( VRTX ) and BeiGene ( BGNE ) are seeking alternative suppliers amid the proposed Biosecure Act in the US that would forbid US firms getting federal grant money from working with four Chinese biotech companies, including WuXi AppTec and WuXi Biologics, the Financial Times reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals' ( VRTX ) cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta and BeiGene's ( BGNE ) blood cancer drug Brukinsa are partly produced at WuXi facilities, the report said, citing analytics firm GlobalData.

WuXi Biologics produces the active ingredient behind Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) diabetes treatment Mounjaro and weight loss drug Zepbound, the report quoted two anonymous sources as saying.

BeiGene ( BGNE ) told MT Newswires that it is "finalizing a second source of API outside of China" as part of its supply chain strategy. "This process began in 2019 to meet the growing demand for our therapies," the company said.

Eli Lilly ( LLY ) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals ( VRTX ) didn't respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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