AstraZeneca ‘said it could cut UK jobs’ if biodiversity drug levy is introduced

Biotech giant's alleged comments come as world leaders at Cop16 discuss how to share benefits from genetic code discoveries fairly

AstraZeneca has said it may cut jobs at its UK operation if the government enforces a global push to make companies share profits derived from nature's genetic codes, multiple sources have told the Guardian.

The alleged comments from the company came amid a concerted lobbying push by the pharmaceutical industry against the profit-sharing measures.