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Nature 446, 598-599 (5 April 2007) | doi:10.1038/446598a; Published online 4 April 2007

China's deadly drug problem

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The head of China's drug-safety agency is under investigation for alleged corruption. David Cyranoski looks at how the inquiry might affect the country's fast-growing pharmaceutical industry.

A corruption scandal at China's top drug-regulatory agency has led to the arrest of its former head and an investigation of unprecedented scale into drugs approved during his tenure. Some are calling the crackdown a step towards a modernized drug industry that encourages innovation.