Thanks to its vaccine against Covid-19, Pfizer has established itself as the king of Big Pharma. By 2021, its turnover had almost doubled. These benefits came close to being threatened when a suspension of patents was considered. This excerpt from “Additional Investigation” reveals how Pfizer and its partner BioNTech were able to influence the German government, even Angela Merkel herself…
In 2021, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccine patents are the subject of global debate. Shouldn’t they be suspended long enough to allow poor countries to produce them without having to pay royalties to their inventors? Making the vaccine a global public good is a necessity, say several political leaders, from Emmanuel Macron to Joe Biden. The European Union says it is ready to discuss the terms of a suspension of intellectual property rights on anti-Covid vaccines. A great idea, a vaccine for all… but for Pfizer and BioNtech, its German partner in the manufacture of the messenger RNA vaccine, the lifting of patents would represent a huge shortfall.
This excerpt from “Complément d’Enquête” shows how, behind the scenes, the lobbyists of the two partners have been active in an attempt to influence a particular State of the European Union. Journalists were able to obtain dozens of emails that Pfizer sent to several German government ministers.
Before the G20 in Rome, where should be addressed the patent file, a letter was sent to Peter Altmaier, Minister for the Economy. It contains attachments of explanatory sheets on the need to maintain patents. This lobbying operation targets even the Chancellor herself: the text used by BioNTech for its communication is sent directly to Angela Merkel, accompanied by an argument “showing why lifting the patents is not relevant”, as the specifies the courier.
When Angela Merkel opposes the lifting of patents… by taking up BioNTech’s argument
In his email to Angela Merkel, the boss of the biotechnology company seems to be dictating to the head of the German government. He argues that “the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine may not be guaranteed by the producer”, which “would be risky for the health of the vaccinated”. During the World Health Summit in May 2021, we hear the Chancellor repeat these elements of language almost word for word: “If patents were lifted without being able to scrupulously control the quality, I see more risks than advantages”, she says.
Rarely have we seen such flagrant proof of intense lobbying at the highest level of a state, according to Nathalie Coutinet, an economist specializing in health issues. “It’s worrying about the ability of governments and heads of state to make decisions in the interest of the people, and not in the interest of private actors – laboratories, Americans moreover.”
Eventually, the patents will not be lifted. Only a few derogations for developing countries will be provided for under an agreement at least. In 2021, Pfizer’s turnover has almost doubled, and allowed the American laboratory to take first place in the kingdom of Big Pharma.
Excerpt from “Pfizer: who’s afraid of the big bad lab?”, a document to see in “Complementary investigation” on May 4, 2023.
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