Pharma firms mull more Chinese

International pharmaceutical companies in China are considering hiring more Chinese executives to avoid any repeat of the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) bribery scandal, the South China Morning Post reported Sunday, citing Richard Bergstrom, director-general at the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations.

In related news, Reuters reported Thursday that more foreign pharmaceutical executives are considering leaving China temporarily or even permanently amid a bribery crackdown in the sector.

The Ministry of Public Security said in May that it has closed the investigation on the GSK case, in which top GSK executives, including former China head Mark Reilly, were charged with alleged corruption in China.

The Briton, who has been barred from leaving China, could face decades in prison, Reuters reported.