China Indicts Former AstraZeneca Executive on Fraud and Smuggling Charges
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Chinese prosecutors have formally indicted Leon Wang, the former executive vice president of AstraZeneca, along with the company’s local unit, marking a significant escalation in a compliance scandal that has overshadowed the pharmaceutical giant’s operations in its second-largest market.
On Feb. 10, AstraZeneca released its 2025 annual report, disclosing that prosecutors in Shenzhen completed their review in November. They charged AstraZeneca’s China arm, a former executive vice president — identified by sources as Wang — and a former senior employee with illegal collection of personal information and illegal trading. Wang and the former senior employee face additional charges of medical-insurance fraud. The annual report did not name the individuals.
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- Chinese prosecutors indicted AstraZeneca’s former China VP Leon Wang and its local unit for illegal data collection, trading, and medical-insurance fraud; trial date pending.
- Four cancer drugs at the center of the scandal remain growth drivers, with combined 2025 sales exceeding $16.4 billion; Tagrisso fraud involved over 100 employees.
- Despite legal issues, AstraZeneca’s 2025 China revenue hit $6.65 billion, and it plans over 100 billion yuan investment in China by 2030.
- AstraZeneca
- AstraZeneca faces a compliance scandal in China, its second-largest market. Its China arm and former executive Leon Wang have been indicted for illegal personal information collection, illegal trading, and medical-insurance fraud related to several cancer drugs. Despite the legal issues and unpaid import taxes, AstraZeneca's stock hit a record high, and the company plans to invest over 100 billion yuan in China by 2030, while also localizing production in the US for a tariff extension under Donald Trump's administration.
- September 2021：
- Authorities began cracking down on the Tagrisso-related medical-insurance fraud.
- 2024：
- A wave of convictions occurred for AstraZeneca employees involved in Tagrisso medical-insurance fraud across several Chinese provinces.
- Late October 2024：
- AstraZeneca first disclosed that Leon Wang was under investigation, unsettling the pharmaceutical industry.
- October 2025：
- AstraZeneca received a final determination from Shenzhen customs on unpaid import taxes totaling 24 million yuan and paid the full amount that month as a voluntary compensation to the state.
- November 2025：
- Prosecutors in Shenzhen completed their review and indicted AstraZeneca’s China arm, Leon Wang, and a former senior employee.
- Late January 2026：
- During a visit by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, AstraZeneca CEO announced a plan to invest over 100 billion yuan in China by 2030.
- Feb. 10, 2026：
- AstraZeneca released its 2025 annual report, disclosing legal updates including indictments and ongoing proceedings.
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