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AstraZeneca finds itself in a difficult situation as it prepares to report its quarterly results on Tuesday.
The drug giant is struggling to contain the fallout from a widening investigation into its practices in China, which has led to the arrest of its top executive in the country.
The FTSE 100 firm confirmed last week that Leon Wang, head of its Chinese subsidiary, was in custody while two other executives, as well as two former bosses, were under investigation.
Under pressure: AstraZeneca struggles to contain fallout from widening investigation into its practices in China
This is believed to be related to allegations that the company imported and sold its cancer drug Imjudo, which is not approved for sale in China.
The news hit AstraZeneca shares, which have lost 15 per cent of their value so far this month, wiping £15 billion off their market value. It will hope that strong third-quarter results will reignite some momentum and reassure anxious investors.
The company is expected to post sales of just over $13bn (£10bn) for the three months to September, up from $11.5bn in the same period last year, according to financial data provider Refinitiv .
It is also expected to generate profit for the quarter of $3.2 billion, nearly double the $1.7 billion a year ago.
Some analysts have downplayed the problems in China, saying the risk to the company is exaggerated.
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