China Expels Former Vaccine Chief Yang Xiaoming Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown

Yang Xiaoming, the former chairman of China National Biotec Group (CNBG) and a leader in developing Sinopharm's BBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine, has been expelled from China's National People's Congress (NPC) for alleged "serious violations of discipline and law" amid an ongoing anti-corruption crackdown in China's health sector. Yang, 62, was a chief engineer and chief scientist at CNBG, which developed China's first COVID-19 vaccine for public use in 2020.

As the chief scientist of China's COVID-19 vaccine project under the 863 program, Yang led the team that developed the Sinopharm vaccine, which was approved for general use in December 2020 and has since been authorized for use in 112 countries. The Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines were the most widely administered in China during the pandemic and the primary COVID-19 vaccines exported by the country.

Yang's dismissal from the NPC comes as China intensifies its anti-corruption campaign in the healthcare system, targeting issues such as the bribing of doctors in drug and medical equipment sales. The announcement about Yang's removal indicates that he is already under investigation by the party's disciplinary body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Why this matters: Yang's expulsion from the NPC amid the ongoing anti-corruption crackdown in China's health sector highlights the government's efforts to address widespread corruption in the kickback-ridden healthcare system. The dismissal of a high-profile figure like Yang, who played a critical role in developing China's first COVID-19 vaccine, emphasizes the severity and scope of the anti-corruption campaign.

Yang was previously honored as an "outstanding member of the Communist Party of China" and a "national advanced individual in combating COVID-19" in 2020 for his role in fighting the pandemic. His dismissal has sparked widespread discussion and speculation on social media, though there is no evidence indicating the reasons are related to the Sinopharm vaccine. The healthcare industry in China has faced issues of commercial bribery, and the authorities have recently implemented a rigorous disciplinary campaign to address this problem, which has had a substantial impact on pharmaceutical stocks in the country.

Key Takeaways

• Yang Xiaoming, former CNBG chairman, expelled from China's NPC for "serious discipline and law violations".
• Yang led the team that developed Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine, China's first for public use.
• Dismissal highlights China's anti-corruption crackdown in the healthcare system, targeting issues like doctor bribery.
• Yang was previously honored for his role in fighting the pandemic, but no evidence links dismissal to vaccine.
• China's healthcare industry faces commercial bribery, prompting a disciplinary campaign impacting pharmaceutical stocks.