AstraZeneca seeks anti-obesity drug candidates in China. The company plans to spin off its China business and run it independently in Hong Kong or Shanghai. This move is intended to protect against geopolitical tension and reassure investors. AstraZeneca is the largest foreign pharmaceutical firm in China by revenue, where it earned $1.6 billion in the first quarter. The spin-off could help win Beijing's support for drug innovation and faster approval. The company has already negotiated with banks about this intention, which has been on the table for several years. China is more important to AstraZeneca than to other large pharmaceutical companies.[1][2]