Pfizer has established itself as the number 1 in the kingdom of Big Pharma thanks to its vaccine against Covid-19. But today, criticism is raining down on the pharmaceutical giant, its leaders, their business methods, the lack of transparency in its contracts and its history of resounding scandals and record compensation for victims. “Additional investigation” on a multinational at the heart of the health of the French.
A record turnover of 100 billion dollars last year. A CEO who would negotiate directly with heads of state or government. Wealthier, more influential than its competitors, Pfizer has established itself as number 1 in the kingdom of Big Pharma thanks to its vaccine against Covid-19.
But today, the image of the American multinational has become blurred. The time of hope was followed by that of mistrust. From “savior” of the world, the laboratory would now be perceived as a “crisis profiteer” by its many detractors. Lack of transparency on contracts, mysterious text messages exchanged between the President of the European Commission and the boss of Pfizer, suspicion of tax optimization, fear of side effects: from Paris to Washington via Brussels, criticism is raining down on the pharmaceutical giant , its leaders and their business methods.
resounding scandals
So should we be afraid of the “big bad lab”, whose mere mention of the name puts the whole conspiratorial sphere in turmoil? Bextra case in the United States, accusations of illegal clinical trials in Nigeria, the history of Pfizer is punctuated by resounding scandals, record compensations which amount to billions for the victims.
But this company, founded at the end of the 19th century by two Germans living in New York, was also built on sometimes totally unexpected discoveries. Like the success of its famous Viagra born of medical research… to fight against certain cardiovascular disorders. In England, the “Complément d’Enquête” teams have found two of its inventors. Pfizer’s blue pill has made the fortune of the company, but not that of these two researchers and their colleagues. Quite the contrary.
Unpublished documents, exclusive testimonials, “Additional investigation” on a company that has never been so central to the health of the French.
An investigation by Lilya Melkonian, Benjamin Poulain and Karim Annette.
In the red armchairs: Alain Fischer, President of the Academy of Sciences.
The editorial staff of “Complément d’Enquête” invites you to comment on the program on Facebook or on Twitter with the hashtag #ComplementDenquete.
> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the Franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), “Magazines” section.
Among our sources
– To understand the Nigeria case: the investigation of washington post who revealed it, Nigerian state investigation report.
– There Pfizer sanctions list.
– THE lobbying statements in the United States.
– The profile of Marshall and Popp.
– There request for official documents from the European Union.
– The agreement signed between Pfizer and the whistleblowers on the Bextra case.
– Campaign financing in the United States: contributions from Pfizer to the candidates of the federal elections, the contributions from pharmaceutical companies in Congress.
– THE Pfizer accounts in 2021.
– There decision of the European Ombudsman on a request for public access to text messages exchanged between the President of the Commission and the CEO of a pharmaceutical company concerning the purchase of vaccines against Covid-19.
Non-exhaustive list.