Merck

HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Confirmed with Ongoing Vaccine Litigation Referral Fees

| Importance: 9/10

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed with ongoing financial interests in vaccine litigation, earning $856,559 in referral fees while controlling federal health policy. Despite resignation from consulting arrangements, he retains potential profit from Merck vaccine litigation, raising …

robert-f-kennedy-jr childrens-health-defense HHS NIH Merck +4 more rfk-jr anti-vaccine hhs conflict-of-interest biotech-investments +5 more
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Max Baucus Confirmed as Ambassador After Healthcare Industry Staffers Become Lobbyists

| Importance: 8/10

The Senate confirmed former Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) as U.S. Ambassador to China by a vote of 96-0, ending his 36-year congressional career. Baucus had served as chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where he was the chief architect of the …

Max Baucus Senate Finance Committee Merck UnitedHealth Group Jeffrey Forbes revolving-door lobbying congressional-corruption healthcare regulatory-capture
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Former CDC Director Julie Gerberding Joins Merck as Vaccine Division President

| Importance: 8/10

Dr. Julie Gerberding, who served as CDC Director from 2002-2009, joined Merck as president of the company’s vaccine division shortly after leaving government service. This move sparked significant controversy because during her tenure at the CDC, Gerberding oversaw the agency’s …

Dr. Julie Gerberding CDC Merck Gardasil vaccine regulatory-capture cdc pharmaceuticals revolving-door vaccines +1 more
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Energy and Commerce Committee Members Receive $45M From Pharma During ACA Debate

| Importance: 8/10

Analysis of pharmaceutical industry campaign contributions from 1999-2018 revealed that the top 40 congressional recipients jointly received $45 million, with 39 serving on committees with health-related legislative jurisdiction—24 in senior positions. Of the top 20 House recipients, 17 served on …

House Energy and Commerce Committee Fred Upton Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Pfizer Merck regulatory-capture campaign-finance pharmaceutical-industry healthcare congressional-corruption
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FDA Whistleblower David Graham Testifies on Vioxx Cover-up Before Senate

| Importance: 9/10

FDA epidemiologist Dr. David Graham delivered explosive testimony before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, declaring that ’the FDA, as currently configured, is incapable of protecting America against another Vioxx. We are virtually defenseless.’ Graham revealed that his study showed …

Dr. David Graham FDA Merck U.S. Senate Finance Committee Government Accountability Project regulatory-capture fda pharmaceuticals whistleblower vioxx +2 more
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