Chinese researcher helped shake up corrupt drug agency

Chinese researcher Gao Chun mounted an uphill attack on China's regulatory agency. But despite facing almost insurmountable odds, his criticisms helped bring down the country's drug czar while opening new investigations into corruption in the country's drug industry. It all started when the company he was working for decided to submit one of Abbott Laboratories' antibiotics for official approval in place of its own therapy still in development. Following the deaths of 10 people from one locally made antibiotic, the country is now reviewing the production licenses on some 170,000 medicines. Gao's protest included unsuccessful lawsuits and a lonely vigil outside of China's Food and Drug Administration. And though ultimately successful in gaining attention to his cause, he now works a series of odd jobs, including one as a delivery man.

- read the report from the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

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