Drugs

Group urges Pfizer to Retract Threat on Drug Supplies

Consumer advocacy group Public Citizen is pressing Pfizer to commit to maintaining access to its medicines in Europe after comments by CEO Albert Bourla suggesting the company could stop supplying drugs to France if governments refuse to pay higher prices. In a letter sent Monday, the group demanded that Pfizer pledge not to withdraw medicines from or delay launching new products in countries that maintain lower drug prices.

The group’s appeal follows remarks by Bourla to reporters indicating that the company could reconsider supplying drugs to France and similar countries if pricing policies prevent it from charging more for its medicines.

Public Citizen said the comments came amid debate over a “most-favored nation” drug pricing policy proposed by the Trump administration, which aims to link U.S. drug prices to those paid in other developed countries. The group argued the policy is unlikely to significantly reduce prices for Americans.

In the letter, Public Citizen’s Access to Medicines director Peter Maybarduk criticized Bourla’s comments, saying they disregarded the company’s responsibility to patients and calling on the CEO to retract the threat. “Americans pay far too much for drugs. But that is not France’s fault, or responsibility,” Maybarduk wrote, arguing that high U.S. prices stem from pharmaceutical companies’ pricing strategies rather than lower prices in Europe.

He also cited Bourla’s compensation and shareholder payouts as evidence that the industry could reduce prices without harming innovation.

The advocacy group warned that countries could respond to any supply cuts by authorizing generic versions of patented medicines through compulsory licensing, a legal mechanism that allows governments to override drug patents under certain conditions. Public Citizen said it would encourage governments to consider such measures if pharmaceutical companies threaten to withhold products over pricing disputes.

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome