BEIJING: Chinese authorities are interrogating AstraZeneca's China division head, the company confirmed in a recent statement.
Leon Wang, President of AstraZeneca China, is "cooperating with an ongoing investigation by Chinese authorities," the company affirmed, adding that its operations in China will continue under the current general manager. "If requested, AstraZeneca will fully cooperate with the investigation."
China remains a critical market for AstraZeneca, especially following its Covid-19 vaccine's broad distribution during the pandemic. In September, AstraZeneca disclosed that several employees were also being investigated for potential illegal data collection and unapproved drug imports.
According to Bloomberg, the investigation involves five current and former Chinese employees and is overseen by authorities in Shenzhen. The probes focus on alleged breaches of patient privacy laws and the unapproved importation of a liver cancer drug in mainland China.
AstraZeneca, based in the United Kingdom, employs 90,000 people globally. Industry observers note the increasingly challenging business environment for international firms in China, citing opacity in data regulations and concerns over the detention of employees.