Latest news with #PhilipDormitzer
New York Post
17-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Pfizer scientist claimed delay of COVID jab results until after 2020 election ‘wasn't a coincidence,' House GOP panel alleges
WASHINGTON — The release of COVID-19 vaccine results after the 2020 election may have not been a 'coincidence' — and could have been part of an effort by senior Pfizer executives to 'deliberately slow down' the testing, according to bombshell allegations from a Republican-led congressional panel. The House Judiciary Committee revealed Thursday that Pfizer's former Global Head of Vaccines Research and Development, Dr. Philip Dormitzer, may have 'conspired to withhold public health information to influence' the presidential contest between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. 5 he release of COVID-19 vaccine results days after the 2020 election may have not been a 'coincidence' — and could have been part of an effort by senior Pfizer executives to 'deliberately slow down' the testing, a House panel alleged. frank – The London-based drugmaker GSK in an April 16 letter to Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) disclosed that Dormitzer 'approached a representative from the GSK human resources team to speak about a potential relocation abroad' in November 2024. According to the HR rep, the ex-Pfizer vaccine scientist was 'visibly upset' in the meeting and asked to be moved to Canada 'due to concerns that he could be investigated by the incoming Trump Administration over his role in developing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.' When the GSK employee asked what his reasons were for requesting the relocation, Dormitzer apparently responded: 'Let's just say it wasn't a coincidence, the timing of the vaccine.' 5 'My Pfizer colleagues and I did everything we could to get the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization at the very first possible moment,' Dormitzer said in March in response to the allegations. Bloomberg via Getty Images Pfizer used independent experts to review the effectiveness and safety of its vaccines and broadcast the results being shared by its scientists just five days after polls closed for the 2020 election on Nov. 3. GSK also divulged in the letter that some of its employees heard from the scientist 'in late 2020, the three most senior people in Pfizer R&D were involved in a decision to deliberately slow down clinical testing so that it would not be complete prior to the results of the presidential election that year.' But the drugmaker, in its letter, also denied that Dormitzer was copping to 'delaying disclosure of completed results,' characterizing his statements as being part of 'a situation of slowing down results before disclosure became necessary.' The Judiciary panel still fired off a pair of letters to Dormitzer and Pfizer's chairman and CEO, Dr. Albert Bourla, on Thursday demanding all records — including emails, texts, meeting notes and other documents — showing data from the clinical trials or communications with federal public health agencies. 5 The House Judiciary Committee revealed Thursday that the former head of Global Head of Vaccines Research and Development may have 'conspired to withhold public health information to influence' the 2020 election. AP 'This new information appears to suggest that you and other senior Pfizer executives conspired to withhold public health information to influence the 2020 presidential election,' Jordan wrote to Dormitzer. 'Due to the seriousness of these allegations, the Committee is compelled to request additional information to inform our oversight.' The responsive files are supposed to cover the period between March 2020 and the present, per the letters. 5 Dormitzer's comments to GSK employees were first made in the course of a federal probe by Manhattan prosecutors, which, along with the Judiciary letters, was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. LightRocket via Getty Images Jordan's panel has also demanded Dormitzer schedule a transcribed interview no later than May 29. Dormitzer's comments to GSK employees were first made in the course of a federal probe by Manhattan prosecutors, which, along with the Judiciary letters, was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The scientist has denied that he or anyone at Pfizer tried to delay the vaccine, and said his comments to his colleagues at GSK were misinterpreted. 'My Pfizer colleagues and I did everything we could to get the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization at the very first possible moment,' Dormitzer previously told Reuters in a statement amid the investigation by the US Attorneys' Office for the Southern District of New York. 5 President Trump has touted how 'proud' he was of 'Operation Warp Speed' being able to get Americans vaccinated from COVID. Getty Images 'Any other interpretation of my comments about the pace of the vaccine's development would be incorrect.' 'Pfizer is in receipt of the letter asking about allegations made in a Wall Street Journal story, and we will respond directly to the Committee,' a rep for the pharmaceutical company said in a statement. 'The COVID-19 vaccine development process was driven by science and guided by the U.S. FDA back in 2020,' the rep added. 'We have consistently and transparently reiterated the facts and the timeline of the tireless work of scientists, regulators, and thousands of clinical trial volunteers who made the vaccine possible. Theories to the contrary are simply untrue and being manufactured.' Reps for GSK did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Trump has touted how 'proud' he was of 'Operation Warp Speed' being able to get Americans vaccinated from COVID, with the purchase of 200 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine and 200 million doses of the Moderna shot.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers investigating allegations on timing of Pfizer COVID vaccine, WSJ says
A new letter from the House Judiciary Committee shows that the panel is seeking information from Pfizer (PFE) and from a former Pfizer scientist, Philip Dormitzer, who alleges that he was part of an effort to 'deliberately slow down' sharing results of the COVID vaccine in 2020 until after that year's presidential election, reported The Wall Street Journal's Annie Linskey and Josh Dawsey. Quickly and easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks straight to you inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on PFE: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Mixed options sentiment in Pfizer (PFE), with shares up $0.33 (+1.48%) near $22.34 Pfizer's Hold Rating: Balancing Policy Uncertainties and Long-Term Growth Prospects U.S. biotech companies debate relocating trials outside U.S., Reuters reports Terns Pharmaceuticals price target lowered to $15 from $26 at BMO Capital Trump's drug-price crackdown may lead to minor concessions, WSJ reports Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
16-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
House GOP requests records from Pfizer CEO and former executive in probe of Covid vaccine delay allegation
Source: CNN The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee is requesting records from Pfizer's CEO and an interview with a former company executive to investigate an allegation that clinical testing related to the development of the company's Covid-19 vaccine was purposefully delayed until after the 2020 presidential election. Pfizer's CEO has previously said that the vaccine timing had nothing to do with politics. The committee probe comes after a Wall Street Journal report that British drugmaker GSK approached federal prosecutors with a disputed allegation that a former Pfizer executive who came to work for them, Dr. Philip Dormitzer, told his new colleagues at GSK that Pfizer delayed announcing that its Covid vaccine was a success until after the election. Dormitzer disputed that account, telling the newspaper, 'My Pfizer colleagues and I did everything we could to get the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization at the very first possible moment,' and that 'any other interpretation of my comments about the pace of the vaccine's development would be incorrect.' CNN has attempted to reach out to Dormitzer for comment. Pfizer's news about the effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine came nearly a week after Election Day, but Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said the timing had nothing to do with politics. In an interview with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta in 2020, Bourla threw cold water on the idea that there was any political motivation behind releasing the news after voters in the United States chose their candidate for president. GSK is a rival drugmaker. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent a letter Thursday to Dormitzer seeking documents and information as well as his testimony in a transcribed interview. The letter cites excerpts from information the committee says it received from GSK about Dormitzer's interactions with a GSK human resources representative in November 2024. The committee highlighted information GSK provided, but CNN has not reviewed the full GSK letter. CNN has reached out to the committee to request the letter. Jordan is also seeking information from Pfizer's chief executive. 'As the human resources representative recalls, in their meeting, Dr. Dormitzer was visibly upset; he requested that he be relocated to Canada due to concerns that he could be investigated by the incoming Trump Administration over his role in developing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine,' GSK said, according to Jordan's letter. 'According to the human resources representative, when asked what prompted his request, Dr. Dormitzer made a comment to the effect of: 'Let's just say it wasn't a coincidence, the timing of the vaccine',' the letter adds. Jordan also quoted GSK claiming that Dormitzer told his former colleagues at the company 'in late 2020, the three most senior people in Pfizer R&D were involved in a decision to deliberately slow down clinical testing so that it would not be complete prior to the results of the presidential election that year.' CNN has reached out to GSK to request comment. A Pfizer spokesperson told CNN, 'Pfizer is in receipt of the letter asking about allegations made in a Wall Street Journal story, and we will respond directly to the Committee.' 'The COVID-19 vaccine development process was driven by science and guided by the U.S. FDA back in 2020. We have consistently and transparently reiterated the facts and the timeline of the tireless work of scientists, regulators, and thousands of clinical trial volunteers who made the vaccine possible. Theories to the contrary are simply untrue and being manufactured,' the spokesperson said. CNN's Sarah Owermohle and Amanda Sealy contributed to this report. See Full Web Article
CNN
15-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
House GOP requests records from Pfizer CEO and former executive in probe of Covid vaccine delay allegation
The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee is requesting records from Pfizer's CEO and an interview with a former company executive to investigate an allegation that clinical testing related to the development of the company's Covid-19 vaccine was purposefully delayed until after the 2020 presidential election. Pfizer's CEO has previously said that the vaccine timing had nothing to do with politics. The committee probe comes after a Wall Street Journal report that British drugmaker GSK approached federal prosecutors with a disputed allegation that a former Pfizer executive who came to work for them, Dr. Philip Dormitzer, told his new colleagues at GSK that Pfizer delayed announcing that its Covid vaccine was a success until after the election. Dormitzer disputed that account, telling the newspaper, 'My Pfizer colleagues and I did everything we could to get the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization at the very first possible moment,' and that 'any other interpretation of my comments about the pace of the vaccine's development would be incorrect.' CNN has attempted to reach out to Dormitzer for comment. Pfizer's news about the effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine came nearly a week after Election Day, but Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said the timing had nothing to do with politics. In an interview with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta in 2020, Bourla threw cold water on the idea that there was any political motivation behind releasing the news after voters in the United States chose their candidate for president. GSK is a rival drugmaker. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent a letter Thursday to Dormitzer seeking documents and information as well as his testimony in a transcribed interview. The letter cites excerpts from information the committee says it received from GSK about Dormitzer's interactions with a GSK human resources representative in November 2024. The committee highlighted information GSK provided, but CNN has not reviewed the full GSK letter. CNN has reached out to the committee to request the letter. Jordan is also seeking information from Pfizer's chief executive. 'As the human resources representative recalls, in their meeting, Dr. Dormitzer was visibly upset; he requested that he be relocated to Canada due to concerns that he could be investigated by the incoming Trump Administration over his role in developing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine,' GSK said, according to Jordan's letter. 'According to the human resources representative, when asked what prompted his request, Dr. Dormitzer made a comment to the effect of: 'Let's just say it wasn't a coincidence, the timing of the vaccine',' the letter adds. Jordan also quoted GSK claiming that Dormitzer told his former colleagues at the company 'in late 2020, the three most senior people in Pfizer R&D were involved in a decision to deliberately slow down clinical testing so that it would not be complete prior to the results of the presidential election that year.' CNN has reached out to GSK to request comment. A Pfizer spokesperson told CNN, 'Pfizer is in receipt of the letter asking about allegations made in a Wall Street Journal story, and we will respond directly to the Committee.' 'The COVID-19 vaccine development process was driven by science and guided by the U.S. FDA back in 2020. We have consistently and transparently reiterated the facts and the timeline of the tireless work of scientists, regulators, and thousands of clinical trial volunteers who made the vaccine possible. Theories to the contrary are simply untrue and being manufactured,' the spokesperson said. CNN's Sarah Owermohle and Amanda Sealy contributed to this report.
CNN
15-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
House GOP requests records from Pfizer CEO and former executive in probe of Covid vaccine delay allegation
The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee is requesting records from Pfizer's CEO and an interview with a former company executive to investigate an allegation that clinical testing related to the development of the company's Covid-19 vaccine was purposefully delayed until after the 2020 presidential election. Pfizer's CEO has previously said that the vaccine timing had nothing to do with politics. The committee probe comes after a Wall Street Journal report that British drugmaker GSK approached federal prosecutors with a disputed allegation that a former Pfizer executive who came to work for them, Dr. Philip Dormitzer, told his new colleagues at GSK that Pfizer delayed announcing that its Covid vaccine was a success until after the election. Dormitzer disputed that account, telling the newspaper, 'My Pfizer colleagues and I did everything we could to get the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization at the very first possible moment,' and that 'any other interpretation of my comments about the pace of the vaccine's development would be incorrect.' CNN has attempted to reach out to Dormitzer for comment. Pfizer's news about the effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine came nearly a week after Election Day, but Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said the timing had nothing to do with politics. In an interview with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta in 2020, Bourla threw cold water on the idea that there was any political motivation behind releasing the news after voters in the United States chose their candidate for president. GSK is a rival drugmaker. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent a letter Thursday to Dormitzer seeking documents and information as well as his testimony in a transcribed interview. The letter cites excerpts from information the committee says it received from GSK about Dormitzer's interactions with a GSK human resources representative in November 2024. The committee highlighted information GSK provided, but CNN has not reviewed the full GSK letter. CNN has reached out to the committee to request the letter. Jordan is also seeking information from Pfizer's chief executive. 'As the human resources representative recalls, in their meeting, Dr. Dormitzer was visibly upset; he requested that he be relocated to Canada due to concerns that he could be investigated by the incoming Trump Administration over his role in developing Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine,' GSK said, according to Jordan's letter. 'According to the human resources representative, when asked what prompted his request, Dr. Dormitzer made a comment to the effect of: 'Let's just say it wasn't a coincidence, the timing of the vaccine',' the letter adds. Jordan also quoted GSK claiming that Dormitzer told his former colleagues at the company 'in late 2020, the three most senior people in Pfizer R&D were involved in a decision to deliberately slow down clinical testing so that it would not be complete prior to the results of the presidential election that year.' CNN has reached out to GSK to request comment. A Pfizer spokesperson told CNN, 'Pfizer is in receipt of the letter asking about allegations made in a Wall Street Journal story, and we will respond directly to the Committee.' 'The COVID-19 vaccine development process was driven by science and guided by the U.S. FDA back in 2020. We have consistently and transparently reiterated the facts and the timeline of the tireless work of scientists, regulators, and thousands of clinical trial volunteers who made the vaccine possible. Theories to the contrary are simply untrue and being manufactured,' the spokesperson said. CNN's Sarah Owermohle and Amanda Sealy contributed to this report.
