Changsheng Biotech chairwoman sentenced to life imprisonment

Gao Junfang, the former chairwoman of Changsheng Biotech, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following a major vaccine scandal in China. The Jilin Provincial Higher People's Court upheld the original verdict, finding her guilty of four offenses: producing and selling substandard products, accepting bribes as a non-state staff member, misappropriating funds, and corporate bribery.

The case stems from a 2018 investigation that revealed the company had systematically falsified production records for rabies vaccines and used expired materials. While court findings noted that sampled rabies vaccines met antigen requirements and did not prove substantive quality issues that caused severe health damage, the company was convicted for manufacturing violations and irregular batch mixing.

Gao's husband, former director and deputy general manager Zhang Youkui, was sentenced to six years in prison for misappropriating funds. Additionally, 12 other defendants received prison terms ranging from seven to 15 years for producing and selling substandard products, while four employees received sentences for destroying evidence. The court also ordered the confiscation of Gao's personal assets and the deprivation of her political rights for life.