AstraZeneca says staff detained in China amid reports of a drug-import investigation

Some workers of British pharmaceutical big AstraZeneca have been detained by police in China as a part of an investigation, the corporate confirmed Thursday.

“We’re conscious a small variety of our workers in China are below investigation and we have now no additional data to share at this level,” an AstraZeneca spokesperson informed CNBC by e-mail, with out disclosing particulars on what the investigation considerations.

The affirmation got here in response to stories earlier Thursday from Bloomberg Information, which stated that there have been 5 present and former workers being probed who’re all Chinese language residents who labored throughout the firm’s oncology division.

One probe is said to the corporate’s assortment of affected person information, and the chance that it infringed China’s data-privacy legal guidelines and the opposite considerations among the people’ position in importing a liver most cancers drug that has not been accepted for distribution inside mainland China, Bloomberg reported, citing individuals accustomed to the matter.

Shares of AstraZeneca fell as a lot as 6.8% in early offers earlier than paring losses. They have been final seen down 2.2% by 12:18 p.m. London time.

The investigation is reportedly being carried out by police within the southern Chinese language metropolis of Shenzhen. A spokesperson for the Shenzhen police power was not instantly contactable by CNBC.

The British drugmaker, which produced one of many main Covid-19 vaccines, has a robust presence in China and has typically talked up the expansion alternatives of the market.