(Yicai) Oct. 31 -- AstraZeneca said its China President Leon Wang is cooperating in an investigation by Chinese authorities, with some employees having alleged the UK-Swedish drugmaker of insurance fraud.

Leon, who is also executive vice president and oversees international operations at AstraZeneca, is assisting with an ongoing probe, the Cambridge-based firm announced on its website yesterday. The company will fully cooperate with the investigation if requested, it added.

"Our China operations continue under the leadership of the current general manager of AstraZeneca China," it added. The position is held by Michael Lai, according to LinkedIn.

AstraZeneca China's operations are normal, Lai said in an internal letter late yesterday, noting that he will continue to lead the development of the company's local business.

In 2021, the Shenzhen Medical Security Bureau used some reported clues to expose several AstraZeneca employees suspected of insurance fraud involving the firm's lung cancer drug Tagrisso. The head of the National Medical Insurance Fund Supervision Department noted in January 2022 that a joint task force was set up for an in-depth investigation and all involved suspects were arrested.

AstraZeneca operates in over 125 countries and is one of the top 10 multinational pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Leon joined its China arm in 2013 as VP of the digestive, respiratory, and anesthesia unit before being promoted to executive VP in 2017, the highest position held by a Chinese manager in a multinational pharmaceutical company.

AstraZeneca's China revenue rose to USD5.9 billion last year from USD2.5 billion in 2015.

On Oct. 25, Yin Min, the chief commercial officer of BeiGene, was taken away by the Shenzhen anti-smuggling department to assist with investigations. However, the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm claims that the incident is unrelated to the company, with Yin having worked at AstraZeneca for 15 years.

Four executives of Rui Ang Gene, including its chairman, were criminally detained, the company, which has cooperated with AstraZeneca, also announced on Oct. 25.

Editor: Martin Kadiev