Table of Contents
Several AstraZeneca employees are under investigation in China for allegedly breaking the law.
The British pharmaceutical giant said five current and former employees were being questioned.
Bloomberg reported that police were investigating the collection of patient data and the import of unlicensed drugs, including a cancer treatment.
Astra said: “We are aware that a small number of our employees in China are under investigation and we have no further information to share at this time.”
The company has been operating in China since 1993 and last year had a turnover of around £4.5bn in the country, 13 per cent of total sales. Beijing is currently cracking down on drug trafficking.
Investigation: Several AstraZeneca employees are under investigation in China for alleged violation of the law
But the investigation is a blow to the FTSE 100 group, which has enjoyed huge success in recent months.
Shares have risen by almost a fifth this year thanks to its blockbuster cancer drug, Imfinzi, and a raft of new pills.
Last month it became the first UK company to be valued at more than £200bn, alongside Shell, which reached £161bn. Only two others are worth more than £100bn: Unilever (£124bn) and HSBC (£121bn).
DIY INVESTMENT PLATFORMS
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 7 Easy investment and ready-to-use portfolios](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/Britains-pay-rises-forecast-to-slow-for-the-first-time.png.webp)
AJ Bell
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 7 Easy investment and ready-to-use portfolios](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/Britains-pay-rises-forecast-to-slow-for-the-first-time.png.webp)
AJ Bell
Easy investment and ready-to-use portfolios
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 9 Free investment ideas and fund trading](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1707733883_749_Britains-pay-rises-forecast-to-slow-for-the-first-time.jpg.webp)
Hargreaves Lansdown
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 9 Free investment ideas and fund trading](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1707733883_749_Britains-pay-rises-forecast-to-slow-for-the-first-time.jpg.webp)
Hargreaves Lansdown
Free investment ideas and fund trading
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 11 Flat rate investing from £4.99 per month](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1707733883_266_Britains-pay-rises-forecast-to-slow-for-the-first-time.png.webp)
interactive investor
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 11 Flat rate investing from £4.99 per month](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/02/1707733883_266_Britains-pay-rises-forecast-to-slow-for-the-first-time.png.webp)
interactive investor
Flat rate investing from £4.99 per month
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 13 Get £200 back in trading commissions](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/07/EasyJet-expects-record-summer-as-peak-season-profits-take-off.png.webp)
Saxo
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 13 Get £200 back in trading commissions](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/07/EasyJet-expects-record-summer-as-peak-season-profits-take-off.png.webp)
Saxo
Get £200 back in trading commissions
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 15 Free treatment and no commissions per account](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chinese-police-question-AstraZeneca-employees-over-drug-imports.png%20)
Trade 212
![Chinese police question AstraZeneca employees over drug imports 15 Free treatment and no commissions per account](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Chinese-police-question-AstraZeneca-employees-over-drug-imports.png%20)
Trade 212
Free treatment and no commissions per account
Affiliate links: If you purchase a product This is Money may earn a commission. These offers are chosen by our editorial team as we believe they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.