The chief researcher of China’s first general-use COVID-19 vaccine, Yang Xiaoming, has been removed from the National People’s Congress due to serious disciplinary and legal misconduct.
Yang, who is also the chairman of Sinopharm’s vaccine subsidiary China National Biotec Group, played a pivotal role in leading the Sinopharm team that successfully developed the BBIBP-CorV vaccine. This vaccine became China’s first to receive approval for general use and has gained significant popularity in the country.
However, Yang’s dismissal has sparked speculation on social media regarding the possible connection between his termination and the Sinopharm vaccine. This development comes as China intensifies its efforts to combat corruption in the healthcare sector, with investigations being initiated against numerous hospital deans and secretaries.
The healthcare industry in China has long faced issues of commercial bribery, and recent anti-corruption campaigns have had a significant impact on pharmaceutical stocks.
