A new multinational company is under investigation in Mexico, with the U.S. government taking the lead in this process against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, known for creating aspirin, according to information revealed by the organization Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI).
MCCI has stated that the investigation on Pfizer in Mexico is currently ongoing, but no specific timeframe has been provided. Both the U.S. government and Pfizer have not disclosed further details regarding the matter.
Pfizer has confirmed that it is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice, clarifying that the investigation pertains to activities that occurred in 2019, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The request refers to a period prior to 2019 and is not related to the company’s sale of COVID-19 vaccines,” stated Pfizer in a press release.
In a financial report, Pfizer itself revealed that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the company for its operations in Mexico.
“We received an informal request from the FCPA Unit of the United States Department of Justice seeking documents related to our operations in Mexico,” detailed the German company in the financial report submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May 2023.
Pfizer’s Sales Triple in Mexico
According to information obtained from buynet, the contracts awarded to Pfizer in Mexico have tripled under the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, when compared to the figures during the six-year term of Enrique Peña Nieto, prior to the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines.
Context
In 2021, Pfizer announced its plan to launch 25 medical innovations by 2025. Almost two years later, the company reported the introduction of eight new therapies throughout 2023, benefiting the Mexican population.
Originally, Pfizer had planned to introduce 25 medical innovations by 2025, but that number has now increased to 30.
Constanza Losada, President and CEO of Pfizer Mexico, explained that these innovative drugs include treatments for atopic dermatitis (mild to moderate and moderate to severe), cardiomyopathy due to amyloidosis, migraine, and various types of cancer such as colorectal, lung (two new therapies), and leukemia.
“In 2022, Pfizer positively impacted the lives of over 18 million people through therapies focused on internal medicine, oncology, rare diseases, inflammation and immunology, and vaccines,” stated Losada.
According to Pfizer, the company invests 15% of its income in Research and Development (R&D) in Mexico and currently has 89 R&D projects underway to bring first-in-class medicines to the country.
“Our plans in Mexico align with the company’s global strategic pillars: generating cutting-edge science and providing equitable access to our products by prioritizing patients. This means bringing therapies and treatments to the country simultaneously with the rest of the world,” explained Constanza Losada.
In 2021, Pfizer announced its focus on oncology, inflammation and immunology, rare diseases, and internal medicine for the 25 medical innovations. The company aimed to impact 24 million people through its business model and patient-centric approach.
