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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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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Merck Withdraws Vioxx After Concealing Heart Attack Risk, FDA Failure Causes Estimated 28,000-55,000 Deaths

| Importance: 9/10

Merck voluntarily withdraws Vioxx (rofecoxib) from the market after concealing evidence that the blockbuster arthritis drug increases heart attack and stroke risk. Internal company documents reveal that Merck knew of cardiovascular dangers years before withdrawal, while the FDA failed to act on …

Merck Food and Drug Administration (FDA) David Graham Raymond Gilmartin healthcare pharmaceutical-industry regulatory-capture fda drug-safety +1 more
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