Human genetic material was illegally exported

SIX companies and an institution, including Shanghai’s Huashan Hospital and the China branch of global biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which is registered in Shanghai, have been punished by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology for violations of human genetic resources management regulations.

The Huashan Hospital, affiliated to Fudan University, and biotech firm BGI in Shenzhen, were found to have conducted international cooperation and research on Chinese human genetic resources with the University of Oxford without permission.

The hospital was ordered to stop the research immediately and destroy all genetic resources materials and relevant research data which has not been passed overseas.

AstraZeneca (China) was given a warning. The human genetic resources materials illegally used was confiscated and destroyed.

Amoy Dx, a biological medicine company based in Xiamen, Q2 Solutions, a global clinical trials laboratory services organization based in Beijing, and BGI were also punished by the ministry.

The Suzhou outlet of pharmaceutical company AppTec Group was found to have exported 5,165 human genetic resources, or human serum, overseas as canine plasma illegally.

It was given a warning, had the human genetic resources materials in the project confiscated and destroyed, and its international cooperation and overseas activities regarding China’s human genetic resources was suspended.

It will not be able to resume this work until its rectification passes inspection.