According to an investigation by journalist Lee Fang, Pfizer and other pharmaceutical giants are actively engaged in a campaign to undermine the False Claims Act in the United States. This law allows the U.S. government to severely punish companies involved in corruption cases while rewarding whistleblowers who expose them.
The False Claims Act, in effect since the American Civil War, has already brought an impressive $67 billion to the U.S. government through fines imposed on companies guilty of fraud and corruption. However, Pfizer was forced to pay a $2.3 billion fine in 2009 for fraud, which has led the company to fiercely oppose this law.
To counter the False Claims Act, Pfizer has recruited influential politicians and powerful law firms to weaken the law. Other pharmaceutical giants such as AstraZeneca, Merck, Genentech, and Amgen have also joined this fight, as they too have been heavily penalized by this law for fraud.
This revelation highlights the attempts of major pharmaceutical companies to escape sanctions for their alleged dubious practices, particularly during this pandemic period when attention on the pharmaceutical industry is particularly high. This raises concerns about the protection of whistleblowers and transparency in the pharmaceutical sector.
