This sprung from the anti-communist Chinese media ecosystem, watso, from (among others) a reputable guy called Dr Han Lianchau. Worked in the US Senate, top attorney specialising in patent laws.
I expected it to be a conspiracy launched by Steve Bannon's mate Gao Wengui. They are trying to take over the anti-communist Chinese dissident movement and weaponise it. As the story has a Wuhan lab link, that would make sense. That it's Steve Bannon's disinformation.
I can't see his footprints though so far. Unless Dr Han has been fooled or is allied with Bannon, which I can't see happening. And then the Chinese government dropped that story in the SCMP.