INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) Investors

BENSALEM, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased AstraZeneca PLC (“AstraZeneca” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AZN) securities between February 23, 2022 and December 17, 2024, inclusive (the “Class Period”). AstraZeneca investors have until February 21, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion.

Investors suffering losses on their AstraZeneca investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to [e-mail].

On October 30, 2024, AstraZeneca disclosed that its International Executive Vice President and China President, Leon Wang, was under investigation by Chinese Authorities. On this news, AstraZeneca’s stock price fell $4.07, or 5.4%, over two consecutive trading days to close at $71.15 per share on November 1, 2024, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on November 5, 2024, news outlets reported that a fraud investigation linked to AstraZeneca had expanded to several Chinese government agencies, implicating dozens of senior executives at the Company. On this news, AstraZeneca’s stock price fell $5.16, or 7.2%, to close at $66.27 per share on November 5, 2024.

Then, on December 18, 2024, Financial Times reported that Wang had been arrested and that AstraZeneca “expect[ed] to see an ‘evident’ revenue hit in China in the wake of the arrest,” stating that “the sales impact is already very evident.” On this news, AstraZeneca’s stock price fell $2.54, or 3.8%, to close at $64.64 per share on December 18, 2024, thereby injuring investors further.

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) AstraZeneca engaged in insurance fraud in China; (2) as a result, AstraZeneca faced heightened legal exposure in China, which eventually resulted in the AstraZeneca China President being detained by Chinese law enforcement authorities; (3) as a result, AstraZeneca understated its legal risks; (4) the foregoing, once revealed, could materially harm AstraZeneca’s business activities in China; and (5) as a result, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

If you purchased AstraZeneca securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at [phone] or by email to [e-mail], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

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