Pfizer has reached a high-profile agreement with President Donald Trump to reduce Medicaid drug prices in exchange for significant tariff relief. While the administration hails this as a win for patients, it is a misguided deal that mainly protects pharmaceutical profits.

The agreement commits Pfizer to price certain medications under Medicaid at rates comparable to other wealthy nations, while the company avoids a harsh 100% tariff on imported patented drugs. Pfizer also pledges $70 billion in research and U.S.-based manufacturing, earning a three-year tariff exemption.

Pfizer’s Controversial History and Pandemic Conduct

Pfizer’s troubled past only deepens concerns. The company has faced:

• A $2.3 billion fraud settlement for illegal drug marketing,

• Price gouging on essential medications,

• Opaque COVID-19 vaccine contracts that prioritised profits and limited government oversight, which led to the deaths and illnesses of millions around the world

• Tax avoidance schemes, including shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions, have further fueled distrust in the company’s business practices.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pfizer, under CEO Albert Bourla, exploited vulnerable countries with secretive contracts that included indemnity clauses shielding the company from liability.

Given this record, it is without a doubt that  Pfizer’s CEO should be held accountable for these actions and their impact on global public health.

This agreement appears to protect Pfizer’s bottom line while offering only symbolic relief to Medicaid patients.

Meanwhile, Pfizer and competitors have already raised prices in international markets like the UK to compensate, undermining claims of fair global pricing.

President Trump’s decision to embrace this deal— clearly guided by sinister advisers and industry insiders—falls short of the bold action needed to make medicines affordable for all Americans. Pfizer’s history of controversy and profiteering during the COVID-19 plandemic demands accountability, not reward.