Moderna chief warns China’s state-backed mRNA push threatens US biotech lead

Stéphane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, warned that China’s government is heavily investing in mRNA biotechnology, aiming to rival the United States in the sector. He noted that while Washington is withdrawing funding, exemplified by HHS ending about $500 million of BARDA mRNA vaccine projects, Beijing has designated biotech as a strategic emerging industry with substantial state subsidies. Bancel argued that keeping drug production on American soil, including a new Massachusetts plant, protects patients and maintains the U.S. leadership position.

He described the facility’s streamlined process, which can generate millions of doses in a single reactor using enzyme-based methods rather than costly cell-based therapies. Moderna’s stock jumped after the firm and Merck announced that their personalized mRNA treatment met primary goals in a Phase 3 melanoma study, signaling broader applications beyond COVID-19 vaccines. Bancel said the company aims to become a major player in oncology and rare genetic diseases by year-end.