China’s Pharmaron Blamed for Deaths of Two Researchers in Lab Accident
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An official investigation has blamed major pharmaceutical outsourcing company Pharmaron Beijing Co. Ltd. and its employees for a lab accident in June that led to the deaths of two researchers from suffocation.
A report released by the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area said the deaths on June 3 were a “general production safety accident” caused by improper operations. The two employees, who had worked at Pharmaron for 6 and 8 years respectively, died from oxygen deprivation after entering a nitrogen-filled flexible isolator in violation of safety protocols.
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- An official probe blamed Pharmaron Beijing and employees for a June 2024 lab accident that killed two researchers by suffocation due to improper operations.
- Direct cause was violation of safety protocols; indirect causes included inadequate training and supervision. Fines up to 1 million yuan are proposed for the company and senior managers.
- Pharmaron's 2024 revenue rose 6.4% to 12.3 billion yuan, but net profit fell 26.8%; signs of recovery appeared in early 2025.
- Pharmaron Beijing Co.Ltd.
- Pharmaron, a major pharmaceutical outsourcing company, was implicated in a fatal lab accident in June, causing two employee deaths by suffocation. It's a key player in the global drug development supply chain, listed in Shanghai and Hong Kong, providing services to global drugmakers. The company, which employed nearly 23,000 people as of June, faces fines and management penalties due to inadequate safety supervision.
- Asymchem Laboratories Inc.
- The provided article mentions Asymchem Laboratories Inc. as a company within China's CXO sector, alongside Pharmaron. This sector experienced rapid growth in recent years but has since faced a slowdown due to a biotech funding downturn. The article's focus is on a safety accident at Pharmaron, not Asymchem Laboratories Inc.
- Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co.Ltd.
- Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co.Ltd. is a firm within China's CXO sector. This sector, which provides outsourcing services to drugmakers, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. However, it is currently facing a slowdown due to a downturn in biotech funding and the end of the pandemic-related boom.
- 2023：
- Referenced as the prior year for calculating proposed fines for Lou Xiaoqiang and other managers.
- 2024：
- Pharmaron’s revenue grew 6.4% to 12.3 billion yuan, and net profit after nonrecurring items fell 26.8% to 1.1 billion yuan.
- June 3, 2024：
- Two Pharmaron Beijing Co.Ltd. employees died from oxygen deprivation after entering a nitrogen-filled flexible isolator in violation of safety protocols.
- By 7:50 a.m. on June 3, 2024：
- Colleagues found the two employees unresponsive in the nitrogen-filled chamber.
- As of June 2024：
- Pharmaron employed nearly 23,000 people.
- August 28, 2024：
- A report by the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area was released, detailing the findings of the official investigation into the lab accident.
- First half of 2025：
- Pharmaron showed signs of recovery, with revenue up 14.9% year-on-year to 6.4 billion yuan and adjusted net profit rising 36.7% to 637 million yuan.
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