Latest news with #PhilipDormitzer
Bloomberg
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Ex-Pfizer Doctor Tells Congress He Didn't Delay Covid Shot Data
A former Pfizer Inc. scientist denied an allegation made by House Republicans that he conspired to delay the release of Covid shot data to hurt Donald Trump's 2020 election prospects, the latest twist in a dispute that demonstrates how vaccines are increasingly becoming a political flashpoint. Philip Dormitzer, a former top official at Pfizer, said the idea that he and his colleagues sought to prevent Trump from winning reelection is a 'false conspiracy theory,' according to a letter to the House Judiciary Committee obtained by Bloomberg.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers Investigate Whether Pfizer Delayed COVID-19 Vaccine Results For Political Reasons
The House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed Dr. Philip Dormitzer, a former Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) executive, in connection with an investigation into claims that the company intentionally delayed the release of clinical testing results for its COVID-19 vaccine until after the 2020 presidential election. The move signals an escalation in the panel's probe into whether political considerations influenced Pfizer's vaccine announcement timeline. Dormitzer, who later joined British drugmaker GSK Plc (NYSE:GSK), is considered a key witness in the inquiry. Trending: GoSun's Breakthrough Rooftop EV Charger Already Has 2,000+ Units Reserved — Benzinga reached out to Pfizer for comment. According to the committee, he has not voluntarily complied with previous requests to appear or provide documents. The subpoena, first reported by CNN, reflects lawmakers' belief that Dormitzer's testimony is central to understanding internal decision-making at Pfizer during the development of the vaccine. The committee points to allegations that Dormitzer, after joining GSK, told colleagues that Pfizer had deliberately delayed disclosing the vaccine's effectiveness until after Election Day. The CNN report added that the Wall Street Journal previously reported that GSK had flagged those statements to federal prosecutors in New to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, GSK provided information from a human resources meeting in November 2024 in which Dormitzer allegedly expressed concern about being investigated by a future Trump administration, suggesting the vaccine announcement timing was "not a coincidence." Further, Jordan's letter cites claims that Dormitzer informed colleagues that Pfizer's top R&D leadership intentionally slowed clinical testing so that it would not conclude before the election results were known. The Judiciary Committee has received some records from GSK but has not made them public. Pfizer announced the COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness on Nov. 9, 2020, six days after Election Day. CEO Albert Bourla has previously denied political motives, telling CNN that the timing was based solely on data readiness and regulatory review, not election considerations. While the committee has not issued a subpoena to Pfizer, it seeks information directly from the company as the investigation progresses. Read Next: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation. If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? Photo: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Lawmakers Investigate Whether Pfizer Delayed COVID-19 Vaccine Results For Political Reasons originally appeared on 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
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers Investigate Whether Pfizer Delayed COVID-19 Vaccine Results For Political Reasons
The House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed Dr. Philip Dormitzer, a former Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) executive, in connection with an investigation into claims that the company intentionally delayed the release of clinical testing results for its COVID-19 vaccine until after the 2020 presidential election. The move signals an escalation in the panel's probe into whether political considerations influenced Pfizer's vaccine announcement timeline. Dormitzer, who later joined British drugmaker GSK Plc (NYSE:GSK), is considered a key witness in the inquiry. Trending: GoSun's Breakthrough Rooftop EV Charger Already Has 2,000+ Units Reserved — Benzinga reached out to Pfizer for comment. According to the committee, he has not voluntarily complied with previous requests to appear or provide documents. The subpoena, first reported by CNN, reflects lawmakers' belief that Dormitzer's testimony is central to understanding internal decision-making at Pfizer during the development of the vaccine. The committee points to allegations that Dormitzer, after joining GSK, told colleagues that Pfizer had deliberately delayed disclosing the vaccine's effectiveness until after Election Day. The CNN report added that the Wall Street Journal previously reported that GSK had flagged those statements to federal prosecutors in New to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, GSK provided information from a human resources meeting in November 2024 in which Dormitzer allegedly expressed concern about being investigated by a future Trump administration, suggesting the vaccine announcement timing was "not a coincidence." Further, Jordan's letter cites claims that Dormitzer informed colleagues that Pfizer's top R&D leadership intentionally slowed clinical testing so that it would not conclude before the election results were known. The Judiciary Committee has received some records from GSK but has not made them public. Pfizer announced the COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness on Nov. 9, 2020, six days after Election Day. CEO Albert Bourla has previously denied political motives, telling CNN that the timing was based solely on data readiness and regulatory review, not election considerations. While the committee has not issued a subpoena to Pfizer, it seeks information directly from the company as the investigation progresses. Read Next: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation. If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? Photo: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Lawmakers Investigate Whether Pfizer Delayed COVID-19 Vaccine Results For Political Reasons originally appeared on 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
Bloomberg
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
House Subpoenas Ex-Pfizer Scientist in Election Meddling Probe
The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed a former Pfizer Inc. executive, demanding he address allegations of deliberately delaying positive news from the company's Covid vaccine study until after the 2020 election. The committee wants Philip Dormitzer, a former top official at Pfizer, to hand over documents and testify at a hearing slated for July 22. In a letter to Dormitzer on Monday, the committee claimed he admitted to slow-walking the results that Pfizer's vaccine for Covid succeeded in a key clinical trial, citing information provided by GSK Plc, where the scientist later worked.
CNN
30-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
House committee subpoenas Pfizer executive in probe of alleged Covid vaccine delay
The House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed a former Pfizer executive who is considered central to its investigation into 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, according to documents obtained by CNN Monday. The demand for documents and a deposition from Dr. Philip Dormitzer, first obtained by CNN, comes after the committee says Dormitzer has failed to comply with requests to appear voluntarily and turn over records. Dormitzer is a key figure in the legislative probe. The committee has alleged that it had information the former Pfizer executive, after going to work for British drugmaker GSK, told his colleagues that Pfizer had delayed announcing its Covid vaccine was effective until after the election. The Wall Street Journal reported that GSK brought those claims to federal prosecutors in Manhattan. But Dormitzer disputed that there had been any delay in seeking approval for the vaccine. He told 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 reached out to Dormitzer and his representative for comment. In issuing him a subpoena, the Judiciary Committee noted his importance to the probe. 'Based on the information we have obtained to date, the Committee believes your testimony is critical for our oversight,' the letter said. Pfizer's announcement 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 after the election 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. The committee has said it received information from GSK about Dormitzer's November 2024 interactions with a GSK human resources representative. 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. '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 a letter from House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan. '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's claim 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.' The committee has also sought information from Pfizer directly, but has not issued the company a subpoena.
