China has officially charged AstraZeneca’s former regional head, Leon Wang, who was detained by authorities in the country more than a year ago in relation to probes into the drugmaker’s business.
The company confirmed Wang’s indictment to Reuters on Wednesday, a day after disclosing that Chinese prosecutors had charged a former executive vice president and a former senior employee in November, without naming them.
They were both charged with “unlawful collection of personal information, illegal trade, and medical insurance fraud,” the company said on Tuesday.
The stock has recovered since, after signs that the impact of the probes could be minor and a series of robust results.
AstraZeneca has also overhauled local leadership in China. It named a new international executive vice president to replace Wang in December 2024.
The company said last November it had prepaid about $3.5 million in compensation for the unpaid import taxes, but cautioned that it could face additional fines.
AstraZeneca’s shares rose as much as 4 percent to a record high of $201.21 on Wednesday, after the company forecast steady profit growth in 2026.
The company has been investing heavily in China. Last month, it pledged $15 billion in commitments and signed a multi-billion-dollar licensing deal with CSPC for weight loss drugs.
The Financial Times first reported on Wang’s charges.
