Editing Pfizer (section)

====COVID-19 and vaccine development====
In March 2020, Pfizer joined the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator funding vehicle to expedite development of [[Treatment and management of COVID-19|treatments against COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staines |first=Richard |date=2020-03-26 |title=Pharma giants including Novartis collaborate on COVID-19 therapies |url=https://pharmaphorum.com/news/collaborate-covid19-therapies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220118165943/https://pharmaphorum.com/news/collaborate-covid19-therapies/ |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Pharmaphorum -GB }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Advancing research into accessible coronavirus treatments |url=https://www.therapeuticsaccelerator.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210707230649/https://www.therapeuticsaccelerator.org/ |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator }}</ref> The $125 million initiative was launched by the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] in partnership with [[Mastercard]] and [[Wellcome Trust]], with additional funding announced shortly after from [[Chan Zuckerberg Initiative]], [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]] and [[Madonna]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-10 |title=Announcing the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator |url=https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/articles/coronavirus-mark-suzman-therapeutics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220118165008/https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/articles/coronavirus-mark-suzman-therapeutics |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=[[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Au-Yeung |first=Angel |date=2020-04-03 |title=A Bill Gates-Backed Accelerator For COVID-19 Therapeutics Treatment Partners With Madonna And Mark Zuckerberg's Chan Zuckerberg Initiative |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2020/04/03/a-bill-gates-backed-accelerator-for-covid-19-coronavirus-therapeutics-treatment-partners-with-madonna-and-mark-zuckerbergs-chan-zuckerberg-initiative/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220118165740/https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2020/04/03/a-bill-gates-backed-accelerator-for-covid-19-coronavirus-therapeutics-treatment-partners-with-madonna-and-mark-zuckerbergs-chan-zuckerberg-initiative/?sh=54ee18948067 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref>

The following month, the [[Foundation for the National Institutes of Health]] announced the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) public-private partnership to develop a coordinated research strategy for prioritizing and speeding up development of COVID-19 vaccines and pharmaceutical products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) |url=https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/activ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220111042823/https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/activ |archive-date=2022-01-11 |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=[[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) }}</ref> Pfizer joined the partnership as an industry "leadership organization", and participated as a collaborator in ACTIV-led clinical trials.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |author=University of Minnesota, International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT), University of Copenhagen, Medical Research Council, Kirby Institute, Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, AIDS Clinical Trials Group |title=A Multicenter, Adaptive, Randomized, Blinded Controlled Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Investigational Therapeutics for Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 |url=https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04501978}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wholley |first=David |date=2020-06-12 |title=Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) |url=https://www.bio.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/ACTIV-BIO-webinar-6-12-20-final.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326054706/https://www.bio.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/ACTIV-BIO-webinar-6-12-20-final.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-26 |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=[[Biotechnology Innovation Organization]]}}</ref> CEO [[Albert Bourla]] attended the [[GAVI]] [[COVAX AMC]] 2021 Investment Opportunity Launch Event, otherwise named One World Protected, on April 15, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=U.S. Department of State |last2=USAID |date=2021-04-15 |title=The Gavi COVAX AMC Investment Opportunity Launch Event Participant List |url=https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/covid/covax/Investment-Opportunity-Launch-Participant-List.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821050428/https://www.gavi.org/sites/default/files/covid/covax/Investment-Opportunity-Launch-Participant-List.pdf |archive-date=2022-08-21 |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=[[Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance]]|author1-link=U.S. Department of State |author2-link=USAID }}</ref>

In Canada, Pfizer endorsed the use of a [[Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic|vaccine passport]] [[mobile app]] developed by CANImmunize in order to record and track status of COVID-19 vaccination.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Partners |url=https://www.canimmunize.ca/en/partners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517111831/https://www.canimmunize.ca/en/partners |archive-date=2022-05-17 |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=CANImmunize }}</ref>

As the scale of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] became apparent, Pfizer partnered with BioNTech to study and develop [[COVID-19]] mRNA vaccine candidates. Unlike many of its competitors, Pfizer took no initial research funds from the United States' [[Operation Warp Speed]] vaccine development program, instead choosing to invest roughly $2 billion of its own funds. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said that he declined money from Operation Warp Speed to avoid government intervention, stating later that "when you get money from someone that always comes with strings. They want to see how we are going to progress, what type of moves you are going to do. They want reports. And also, I wanted to keep Pfizer out of politics, by the way."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Czachor |first=Emily |date=2020-11-09 |title=Pfizer Avoided R&D Funding From Trump's Operation Warp Speed Because of Bureaucracy, Politics |work=[[Newsweek]] |url=https://www.newsweek.com/pfizer-avoided-rd-funding-trumps-operation-warp-speed-because-bureaucracy-politics-1546110 |access-date=2021-05-18}}</ref>

In May 2020, Pfizer began testing four different [[COVID-19 vaccine]] variations using [[lipid nanoparticle]] technology provided by Canadian biotechnology company [[Acuitas Therapeutics]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Bianchini |first=Elisabetta |date=2020-11-10 |title=Acuitas Therapeutics: The Canadian technology that the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 'can't work without' |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/covid19-vaccine-coronavirus-canada-acuitas-therapeutics-pfizer-biontech-211410040.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930214712/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/covid19-vaccine-coronavirus-canada-acuitas-therapeutics-pfizer-biontech-211410040.html |archive-date=2022-09-30 |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=[[Yahoo! News]] -CA}}</ref> Vaccines were injected into the first human participants in the U.S. in early May. In July 2020, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that two of the partners' four [[Messenger RNA|mRNA]] vaccine candidates had won fast track designation from the [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeArment |first=Alaric |date=2020-07-13 |title=Pfizer, BioNTech get fast-track from FDA for Covid-19 vaccines |url=https://medcitynews.com/2020/07/pfizer-biontech-get-fast-track-from-fda-for-covid-19-vaccines/ |access-date=2020-07-15 |website=MedCity News}}</ref> The company began Phase{{spaces}}II-III testing on 30,000 people in the last week of July 2020 and was slated to be paid $1.95{{spaces}}billion for 100{{nbsp}}million doses of the vaccine by the US government.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Pfizer Beats Forecasts as Vaccine Trial Enters Final Stage |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-sales-fall-as-company-races-toward-covid-19-vaccine-11595936314 |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 29, 2020}}</ref> In September 2020, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that they had completed talks with the European Commission to provide an initial 200{{nbsp}}million vaccine doses to the EU, with the option to supply another 100{{nbsp}}million doses at a later date.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kilgore |first=Tomi |title=Pfizer, BioNTech conclude talks over supplying EU with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pfizer-biontech-conclude-talks-over-supplying-eu-with-sars-cov-2-vaccine-candidate-2020-09-09 |access-date=2020-09-10 |website=MarketWatch}}</ref>

On November 9, 2020, Pfizer announced that BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, tested on 43,500 people, was found to be 90% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 2020 |title=Covid vaccine: First 'milestone' vaccine offers 90% protection |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54873105}}</ref> The efficacy was updated to 95% a week later.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kounang |first=Nadia |date=9 November 2020 |title=Pfizer and BioNTech say final analysis shows coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective with no safety concerns |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/18/health/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-safety/index.html |access-date=9 November 2020 |website=CNN}}</ref> Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist interviewed by ''The New York Times'', described the efficacy figure as "really a spectacular number."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Katie |last2=Gelles |first2=David |last3=Zimmer |first3=Carl |date=2020-11-09 |title=Pfizer's Early Data Shows Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer.html |access-date=2021-05-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The announcement made Pfizer and BioNTech the first companies to develop and test a working vaccine for COVID-19.<ref name=":1" />

Over the following month and a half, regulators in various countries approved Pfizer's vaccine for emergency use.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Michelle |date=2 December 2020 |title=Covid-19: Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine judged safe for use in UK |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55145696 |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref name="Bahrain Approves Covid-19 Vaccine (Al Jazeera)">{{Cite news |date=4 December 2020 |title=Bahrain becomes second country to approve Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine |publisher=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/4/bahrain-becomes-second-country-to-approve-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine |access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Austen |first=Ian |date=9 December 2020 |title=Canada Approves Vaccine and Could Start Shots Next Week |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/world/americas/canada-vaccine-approve.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 December 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211000426/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/world/americas/canada-vaccine-approve.html |archive-date=11 December 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2020 |title=Saudi Arabia approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as Bahrain plans to give the public free shots |work=KTLA |url=https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/saudi-arabia-approves-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-as-bahrain-plans-to-give-the-public-free-shots/ |access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Steenhuysen |first=Manas Mishra, Julie |date=11 December 2020 |title=U.S. FDA advisers overwhelmingly back authorizing Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-pfizer-vaccine/us-fda-advisers-wrestle-with-ethical-issues-linked-to-authorizing-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-idUSKBN28K1O5 |access-date=11 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Katie |last2=LaFraniere |first2=Sharon |last3=Weiland |first3=Noah |last4=Goodnough |first4=Abby |last5=Haberman |first5=Maggie |date=2020-12-12 |title=F.D.A. Clears Pfizer Vaccine, and Millions of Doses Will Be Shipped Right Away |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/health/pfizer-vaccine-authorized.html |access-date=2020-12-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Abdullah |first=Zhaki |title=Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine approved by Singapore, first shipment expected by end-December |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-phase-3-13769570 |date=December 14, 2020 |website=CNA |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204082015/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-phase-3-13769570 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-recommends-first-covid-19-vaccine-authorisation-eu |title=EMA recommends first COVID-19 vaccine for authorisation in the EU |website=[[Europa (web portal)|Europa]] |date=December 21, 2020}}</ref>