Federal prosecutors are investigating a tip suggesting that Pfizer may have delayed the announcement of its COVID-19 vaccine trial results until after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal.
The probe stems from a tip received by the Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general, which alleged that Pfizer withheld the data to avoid influencing the election outcome. The tip reportedly came from a rival drugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), citing former Pfizer executive Phil Dormitzer. Dormitzer, now with GSK, denies ever suggesting there was a delay.
Pfizer responded to the allegations, stating that its timeline was determined solely by science and the need for robust data, not political considerations. The company announced the successful results of its COVID vaccine trial on November 9, 2020 — two days after Joe Biden was projected to have won the election.
No charges have been filed, and investigators have not yet identified any violations. However, the inquiry revives a long-standing accusation from former President Donald Trump and his allies, who have claimed the pharmaceutical industry worked to undermine his reelection chances by withholding vaccine news.
Pfizer has maintained throughout that its communications were guided by rigorous internal protocols and regulatory requirements, not by the political calendar.
This development adds a new twist to the ongoing scrutiny over the intersection of pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and politics during the pandemic.
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