Pfizer Expands Voluntary Nationwide Recall to include Four Additional Lots of CHANTIX® (varenicline) Tablets Due to N- Nitroso Varenicline Content | FDA
Pfizer is voluntarily recalling an additional four lots of Chantix 0.5mg/1 mg Tablets to the patient (consumer/user) level due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, above the Pfizer established Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) level.
Pfizer Expands Voluntary Nationwide Recall to include Four Additional Lots of CHANTIX® (varenicline) Tablets Due to N- Nitroso Varenicline Content
In 2021, Pfizer recalled all lots of Chantix in the U.S. due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, at or above the FDA interim acceptable intake limit.
federal courts following Pfizer’s voluntary recall of Chantix due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline.
In 2021, Pfizer recalled all lots of Chantix in the U.S. due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, at or above the FDA interim acceptable intake limit.
Failure to comply with these requirements may subject us to possible legal or regulatory actions, such as warning letters, suspension of manufacturing, seizure of product, injunctions, debarment, product recalls, delays or denials of product approvals, import bans or denials of import certifications. In 2021, Pfizer recalled all lots of Chantix in the U.S. due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, at or above the FDA interim acceptable intake limit.
federal courts following Pfizer’s voluntary recall of Chantix due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline.
For example, in 2021, Pfizer recalled all lots of Chantix due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso- varenicline, at or above the acceptable intake limits communicated by various regulatory authorities.
For example, in 2021, Pfizer recalled all lots of Chantix due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, at or above acceptable intake limits communicated by various regulatory authorities.
federal courts following Pfizer’s voluntary recall of Chantix due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline.
For example, in 2021, Pfizer recalled Chantix due to the presence of a nitrosamine, N-nitroso-varenicline, at or above acceptable intake limits communicated by various regulatory authorities.
Political spendingConfirmedYou decide
Pfizer funneled between $500,000 and $1 million to Trump’s 2025 inaugural committee
Tellingly, the industry's lobbying efforts have extended to handouts of raw cash: PhRMA, Pfizer, Bayer, Merck, Eli Lilly, and Abbott Labs each funneled between $500,000 and $1 million to Trump’s 2025 inaugural committee, a plain attempt to curry favor with an administration that is widely perceived as being particularly susceptible to corporate gifts.
Tellingly, the industry's lobbying efforts have extended to handouts of raw cash: PhRMA, Pfizer, Bayer, Merck, Eli Lilly, and Abbott Labs each funneled between $500,000 and $1 million to Trump’s 2025 inaugural committee, a plain attempt to curry favor with an administration that is widely perceived as being particularly susceptible to corporate gifts.
Climate & energyAllegationAgainst
Pfizer is accused of discharging hazardous chemicals
Pfizer is accused of discharging trichloroethylene and other hazardous chemicals at a pharmaceutical plant, contaminating groundwater 90 feet underground.
The state's complaint alleges that Pfizer was involved in the operation of a pharmaceutical plant that discharged trichloroethylene, or TCE, and other hazardous chemicals at the site, contaminating the groundwater about 90 feet underground.
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Pfizer is accused of misleading vaccine effectiveness claims
Pfizer is accused of misleading consumers by claiming its vaccine is 95% effective through relative risk reduction in a Lubbock County state court complaint.
In a complaint filed in a Lubbock County state court, Paxton said it was misleading for Pfizer to claim its vaccine was 95% effective because it offered a "relative risk reduction" for people to who took it.
Pfizer is sued by Texas over COVID-19 vaccine claims
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced Thursday he is suing the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, alleging the company “misrepresented” the effectiveness of its widely administered COVID-19 vaccine.
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settled enforcement action against Pfizer Inc. for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) through bribery of foreign officials
The settlement involving Pfizer Inc. concerns doctors and other health care professionals.
SEC Charges Pfizer with FCPA Violations The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Pfizer Inc. with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) when its subsidiaries bribed doctors and other health care professionals employed by foreign governments in order to win business. The SEC alleges that employees and agents of Pfizer’s subsidiaries in Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Serbia made improper payments to foreign officials to obtain regulatory and formulary approvals, sales, and increased prescriptions for the company’s pharmaceutical products.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Pfizer Inc. with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) when its subsidiaries bribed doctors and other health care professionals employed by foreign governments in order to win business. The SEC alleges that employees and agents of Pfizer’s subsidiaries in Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Serbia made improper payments to foreign officials to obtain regulatory and formulary approvals, sales, and increased prescriptions for the company’s pharmaceutical products.
Pfizer consented to the entry of a final judgment ordering it to pay disgorgement of $16,032,676 in net profits and prejudgment interest of $10,307,268 for a total of $26,339,944.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed a settled enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Pfizer Inc. for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) when its subsidiaries bribed doctors and other health care professionals employed by foreign governments in order to win business.
Pfizer consented to the entry of a final judgment ordering it to pay disgorgement of $16,032,676 in net profits and prejudgment interest of $10,307,268 for a total of $26,339,944.
The SEC further alleges that Wyeth subsidiaries engaged in FCPA violations, primarily before, but also after, the company's acquisition by Pfizer in late 2009. For example, according to the SEC's complaint, starting at least in 2005, subsidiaries marketing Wyeth nutritional products in China, Indonesia, and Pakistan bribed government doctors to recommend their products to patients by making cash payments or in some cases providing BlackBerrys and cell phones or travel incentives.
The SEC alleges that employees and agents of Pfizer's subsidiaries in Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Serbia made improper payments to foreign officials to obtain regulatory and formulary approvals, sales, and increased prescriptions for the company's pharmaceutical products.
This action arises from violations of the books and records and internal controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“the FCPA”) by Defendant Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”), relating to improper payments made to foreign officials in numerous countries by the employees and agents of Pfizer’s subsidiaries in order to assist Pfizer in obtaining or retaining business.
As described above, four Pfizer subsidiaries engaged in transactions in eight countries which were intended to improperly influence foreign government officials in connection with regulatory and formulary approvals, purchase decisions, prescription decisions, and customs clearance.
Pfizer Czech employees took steps to conceal the true nature of these transactions, and failed to accurately record these transactions by falsely booking them as “Conventions and Trade Meeting,” among other false and misleading descriptions.
Pfizer HCP Croatia employees took steps to conceal the true nature of these transactions and failed to accurately record these transactions by falsely booking them as “Conventions,” “Gifts,” and “Professional Services – Non Consultant” expenses, among other false and misleading descriptions.
Pfizer Russia employees took steps to conceal the true nature of these various improper transactions, and failed to accurately record these transactions by booking them as “Travel and Entertainment,” “Convention and Trade Meetings,” “Conferences,” “Distribution Freight,” and “Clinical Grants/Clinical Trials,” among other false and misleading descriptions.
As a result of this conduct, Pfizer violated Section 13(b)(2)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) by failing to make and keep books, records and accounts, which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and disposition of assets of the issuer.
Pfizer Italy employees took steps to conceal the true nature of these transactions and failed to accurately record these transactions by falsely booking them as “Marketing Expenses,” “Professional Training,” and “Advertising in Scientific Journals,” among other false and misleading descriptions.
The SEC alleges that employees and agents of Pfizer’s subsidiaries in Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Serbia made improper payments to foreign officials to obtain regulatory and formulary approvals, sales, and increased prescriptions for the company’s pharmaceutical products.
Pfizer consented to the entry of a final judgment ordering it to pay disgorgement of $16,032,676 in net profits and prejudgment interest of $10,307,268 for a total of $26,339,944.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Pfizer Inc. with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) when its subsidiaries bribed doctors and other health care professionals employed by foreign governments in order to win business.
Pfizer consented to the entry of a final judgment ordering it to pay disgorgement of $16,032,676 in net profits and prejudgment interest of $10,307,268 for a total of $26,339,944.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Pfizer Inc. with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) when its subsidiaries bribed doctors and other health care professionals employed by foreign governments in order to win business.
The SEC alleges that employees and agents of Pfizer’s subsidiaries in Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Serbia made improper payments to foreign officials to obtain regulatory and formulary approvals, sales, and increased prescriptions for the company’s pharmaceutical products.
SEC Charges Pfizer with FCPA Violations
SEC.gov | SEC Charges Pfizer with FCPA Violations
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
Pfizer settles for deceptive Rapamune promotion
Pfizer settled with Schneiderman over off-label promotion of Rapamune.
Schneiderman Announces Settlement with Pfizer to End Deceptive Advertising Practices and Off-label Promotion of Immunosuppressive Drug Rapamune
Schneiderman Announces Settlement with Pfizer to End Deceptive Advertising Practices and Off-label Promotion of Immunosuppressive Drug Rapamune | Office of Inspector General | Government Oversight | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Political spendingConfirmedYou decide
Pfizer gives $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee
Pfizer gave $1 million to the inaugural committee for Trump's swearing-in events.
Pfizer, Dow Chemical and Bank of America gave $1 million apiece to the inaugural committee, which raised private funds for the balls, receptions, parade and other events celebrating Trump’s Jan. 20 swearing-in.
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
Pfizer agreed to pay $59.7 million to resolve kickback allegations related to false claims submitted to Medicaid
Pfizer has agreed to pay $59,746,277.54, plus interest, to resolve allegations that Biohaven knowingly submitted or caused false claims to be submitted to Medicaid and other federal health care programs by paying kickbacks, including cash, lavish meals, and honoraria payments, to health care providers to induce them to prescribe Nurtec ODT (Nurtec), a prescription medication for the treatment of migraine headaches.
AG Nessel Secures $59.7 Million Settlement Over Kickback Allegations Against Pfizer Subsidiary
Pfizer has agreed to pay $59,746,277.54, plus interest, to resolve allegations that Biohaven knowingly submitted or caused false claims to be submitted to Medicaid and other federal health care programs by paying kickbacks, including cash, lavish meals, and honoraria payments, to health care providers to induce them to prescribe Nurtec ODT (Nurtec), a prescription medication for the treatment of migraine headaches.
Office of Public Affairs | Pfizer Agrees to Pay Nearly 60M to Resolve False Claims Allegations Relating to Improper Physician Payments by Subsidiary | United States Department of Justice
Attorney General: AG Nessel Secures $59.7 Million Settlement Over Kickback Allegations Against Pfizer Subsidiary
Pfizer has agreed to pay $59,746,277.54, plus interest, to resolve allegations that Biohaven knowingly submitted or caused false claims to be submitted to Medicaid and other federal health care programs by paying kickbacks, including cash, lavish meals, and honoraria payments, to health care providers to induce them to prescribe Nurtec ODT (Nurtec), a prescription medication for the treatment of migraine headaches.
EducationConfirmedIn favor
Pfizer grants for career exploration and college credits
Pfizer grants funds to help students explore potential career paths and earn college credits.
Bourla committed Pfizer to supporting “several key organizations that are providing critical emergency assistance in the region” and to matching employee donations.
Community investmentConfirmedIn favor
Pfizer co-founded trachoma elimination initiative
Pfizer co-founded the International Trachoma Initiative with the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation in 1998 to help eliminate trachoma, a leading cause of global blindness.
Social — Continued Social In 1998, Pfizer and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation co-founded the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), a nonprofit dedicated to helping eliminate trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide.
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Pfizer is accused of misled Florida about COVID vaccine safety
Pfizer is accused of misleading Florida about its COVID vaccine's safety.
Uthmeier alleges Pfizer misled Florida about its COVID vaccine's safety • Florida Phoenix
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit Thursday against Pfizer Inc., alleging unfair and deceptive marketing of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
While Pfizer was insisting to consumers that the vaccine posed no material safety risks — and while it actively sought to discredit those who said otherwise — Pfizer was aware of data reflecting serious safety risks that it hid from the public.”
Oct 1 (Reuters) - Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Pfizer and its CEO, Albert Bourla, accusing the drugmaker of misleading consumers about the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., alleging unfair and deceptive marketing of the COVID-19 vaccine, seeking monetary damages and an injunction against future violations.
Uthmeier alleges Pfizer misled Florida about its COVID vaccine’s safety
The complaint from Florida recalls the uncertainty faced by citizens during the pandemic, highlighting Pfizer's intensive marketing campaign to promote the safety of its mRNA vaccine while allegedly hiding data reflecting serious safety risks.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a lawsuit Thursday against Pfizer Inc., alleging unfair and deceptive marketing of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.
Health policyConfirmedYou decide
Pfizer executives suggest softer drug price cuts
Pfizer executives indicate prescribed drug price cuts will not be as steep as initially feared.
The comments from executives of companies including Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson and AbbVie suggest the price cuts won’t be as steep as many in the industry initially feared.
Corporate conductSettlementAgainst
Pfizer settles SEC Reach $29M end to scrap over insider trading
Pfizer settled with SEC over insider trading allegations, ending a $29M financial enforcement action.
Pfizer Inc. and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reached a $29 million deal ending their fight over how to distribute the remainder of the agency’s historic insider trading settlement with S.A.C. Capital Advisors, the hedge fund founded by billionaire Steven Cohen.
Pfizer, SEC Reach $29M End to Scrap Over Insider Trading Settlement
In a parallel action, the Department of Justice announced that Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation agreed to pay a $15 million penalty to resolve its investigation of FCPA violations. “Pfizer subsidiaries in several countries had bribery so entwined in their sales culture that they offered points and bonus programs to improperly reward foreign officials who proved to be their best customers,” said Kara Brockmeyer, Chief of the SEC Enforcement https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2012-2012-152htm 3/5/21, 9:56 AM Page 1 of 4
Pfizer and Wyeth agreed to separate settlements in which they will pay more than $45 million combined to settle their respective charges.
Pfizer and Wyeth agreed to separate settlements in which they will pay approximately $45 million combined in disgorgement and prejudgment interest to the SEC to settle their respective charges.
Corporation, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer, will pay a $15 million penalty to settle FCPA charges brought against it today by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) under a deferred prosecution agreement.
Pfizer and Wyeth agreed to separate settlements in which they will pay more than $45 million combined to settle their respective charges.
In a parallel action, the Department of Justice announced that Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation agreed to pay a $15 million penalty to resolve its investigation of FCPA violations.
In a parallel action, the Department of Justice announced that Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation agreed to pay a $15 million penalty to resolve its investigation of FCPA violations.
Pfizer and Wyeth agreed to separate settlements in which they will pay more than $45 million combined to settle their respective charges.
Wages & economic policyOfficial statementAgainst
Pfizer books most of its earnings offshore
While the exact methods by which Pfizer is able to pay such low tax rates are unclear, public records indicate that Pfizer books most of its earnings offshore and benefits from changes made by the Republican tax law that lowered tax rates on foreign profits of U.S. corporations.
While the exact methods by which Pfizer is able to pay such low tax rates are unclear, public records indicate that Pfizer books most of its earnings offshore and benefits from changes made by the Republican tax law that lowered tax rates on foreign profits of U.S. corporations.
Pfizer recently disclosed that reductions in its effective tax rate were the result of the “jurisdictional location of earnings” and “largely due to lower tax rates in certain jurisdictions.”4 Pfizer also added that its tax rates are also “influenced by the specific location of non-U.S. earnings and the level of such earnings as compared to our total earnings.”5 As you are aware, profits reported by foreign subsidiaries of a U.S. multinational corporations are not taxed at the corporate income tax rate of 21%, but instead taxed at the much lower Global Intangible Low-Tax Income (GILTI) rate of 10.5% created by the 2017 Republican tax law.
If this is true, then the international tax system created by the 2017 Republican tax law appears to encourage and reward Pfizer’s shifting of profits offshore.
That Pfizer has successfully located more than 80% of its profits in foreign jurisdictions, it stands to reason that income derived from U.S. customers is being taxed under the low 10.5 percent GILTI rate on foreign income.
In Singapore, Pfizer benefits from “incentive tax rates” on income effective through 2048.7 Public reports further indicate that Pfizer also benefits from tax incentives in Ireland that encourage multinational U.S. corporations to shift intellectual property rights and related earnings to the country.8 As a result of these arrangements, there is a substantial discrepancy between where Pfizer generates prescription drug sales and where Pfizer books earnings from those drug sales for tax purposes.
Workplace equityAllegationAgainst
Pfizer is accused of failing to inform families
Pfizer is accused of not informing families that trovafloxacin was an experimental treatment and failed to obtain informed consent.
A secret Nigerian government report concluded that the drug manufacturer Pfizer undertook an “illegal trial of an unregistered drug” when the company enrolled nearly 100 Nigerian children with meningitis in a trial testing its antibiotic trovafloxacin (Trovan) against ceftriaxone during a 1996 meningitis epidemic.
A class action suit filed on behalf of the children’s families in a federal court in New York alleges that Pfizer did not inform families that trovafloxacin was an experimental treatment and that it failed to obtain informed consent (BMJ 2001;323:592).
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Pfizer is accused of providing improper payments to doctors
Pfizer is accused of providing improper payments to doctors as incentives for prescribing or purchasing Pfizer products in the future.
To facilitate the payment of rewards and incentives, Pfizer China employees organized meetings with Chinese government doctors that were marketed as “clubs” or “high- prescribing doctors” programs.
Although Pfizer HCP Serbia management discovered the improper agreement and terminated the responsible sales representative, it still provided the support after the doctor threatened to spread negative information about Pfizer’s reputation as a company.
Pfizer China employees provided these improper payments in recognition of past product sales or prescriptions, as incentives to prescribe or purchase Pfizer products in the future, or upon the basis of Pfizer China employees’ assessments of the doctors’ potential prescribing levels.
COMPLAINT
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Pfizer is accused of providing payments to hospitals
Pfizer is accused of providing payments to hospitals as price discounts or in-kind benefits for purchases of certain products.
Under this program, Pfizer Russia employees were permitted to provide payments to hospitals of 5% of the value of certain Pfizer products purchased by the hospitals as price discounts or in-kind benefits to hospitals for their purchases.
COMPLAINT
Climate & energySettlementAgainst
Pfizer Inc. agreed to pay $975,000 to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations at its former manufacturing plant in Groton
The settlement involving Pfizer Inc. concerns Clean Air Act.
- June 23, 2008) - The pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. has agreed to pay a $975,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its former manufacturing plant in Groton, Conn., the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
Pfizer To Pay $975,000 For Alleged Clean Air Violations(Boston, Mass.
WASHINGTON—The pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. has agreed to pay a $975,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act at its former manufacturing plant in Groton, Conn., the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
During its production of pharmaceutical-grade chemicals, Pfizer used substances such as methanol, hydrogen chloride, methylene chloride, MTBE, hexane, toluene, and many others, which are classified by EPA as hazardous air pollutants under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.
The consent decree filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut settles government claims that Pfizer violated the “National Emission Standards for Pharmaceuticals Production” and the “National Emission Standards for Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants for Equipment Leaks,” (PharmaMACT regulations) under the federal Clean Air Act.