W.ASSINTON — Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourra gave Mehmet Oz the maximum amount of money ahead of last year’s failure to be elected to the U.S. Senate to represent Pennsylvania, according to federal campaign finance records. provided campaign funding.
Oz is well known for spreading medical misinformation, including promoting astrology as a legitimate medical tool and promoting the myth that apple juice contains dangerous levels of arsenic. I’m here.
Bourla, who heads Pfizer and is PhRMA’s board treasurer, donated $2,900 to Oz on August 12th. Maximum amount allowed for an individual. The donation came on the same day the Democratic-led House of Representatives passed the Control Inflation Act. The vote ensured that a drug pricing policy, which the pharmaceutical industry had vehemently opposed, would become law.
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A Pfizer spokeswoman said the company does not comment on employees’ personal political contributions.
The contribution shows the zeal the drug companies hoped would regain Republican control of Congress in the midterm elections. , the traditionally formidable drug lobby group failed to stop the passage of the policy.
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Oz was ultimately defeated by his Democratic opponent, Senator John Fetterman. The Pennsylvania Senate election, considered one of his most competitive in the country, was a must-win for Republicans who were looking to overthrow a evenly-divided Senate. Fetterman ultimately defeated Oz with his 51% of the popular vote. Republicans performed poorly nationally, losing the Senate and barely controlling the House.
Despite Oz’s eventful history of providing a platform for anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists, including Robert Kennedy Jr. and Joseph Mercola, he actually promoted a Covid-19 vaccine. “Very effective,” and until last year he hosted a TV show that had pro-vaccine guests, including then-surgeon Jerome Adams.
Bourla only donated to one more individual campaign in 2022. Bourla’s other campaign spending was funneled through her PAC at Pfizer.
Industry cash has flooded into drug-friendly politicians such as Rep. Scott Peters (D-California) and Sen. None of the CEOs joined Mr. Boula in favor of Mr. Oz.
