Pfizer released a statement Friday evening after a bombshell Project Veritas video
showed a director claiming the company is conducting “directed
evolution” research to study how COVID could be mutated in order to
“preemptively develop new vaccines.”
Seeking to “set the record straight,” Pfizer denied conducting either
gain of function or directed evolution research in developing the
COVID-19 vaccine. The company does say, however, that in some cases,
"when a virus does not have any known gain of function mutations, such
virus may be engineered to enable the assessment of antiviral activity
in cells."
Working with collaborators, we have
conducted research where the original SARS-CoV-2 virus has been used to
express the spike protein from new variants of concern. This work is
undertaken once a new variant of concern has been identified by public
health authorities. This research provides a way for us to rapidly
assess the ability of an existing vaccine to induce antibodies that
neutralize a newly identified variant of concern. We then make this data
available through peer reviewed scientific journals and use it as one
of the steps to determine whether a vaccine update is required.
In
addition, to meet U.S. and global regulatory requirements for our oral
treatment, PAXLOVID™, Pfizer undertakes in vitro work (e.g., in a
laboratory culture dish) to identify potential resistance mutations to
nirmatrelvir, one of PAXLOVID’s two components. With a naturally
evolving virus, it is important to routinely assess the activity of an
antiviral. Most of this work is conducted using computer simulations or
mutations of the main protease–a non-infectious part of the virus. In a
limited number of cases when a full virus does not contain any known
gain of function mutations, such virus may be engineered to enable the
assessment of antiviral activity in cells. In addition, in vitro
resistance selection experiments are undertaken in cells incubated with
SARS-CoV-2 and nirmatrelvir in our secure Biosafety level 3 (BSL3)
laboratory to assess whether the main protease can mutate to yield
resistant strains of the virus. It is important to note that these
studies are required by U.S. and global regulators for all antiviral
products and are carried out by many companies and academic institutions
in the U.S. and around the world.
Fact-based information rooted
in sound science is vitally important to overcoming the COVID-19
pandemic and Pfizer remains committed to transparency and helping
alleviate the devastating burden of this disease. (Pfizer)
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Responding to the "bizarre" statement, Fox News's Tucker Carlson
called the admission that regulators require these experiments "big news
if true" and wondered which regulators required them. After all, as the
Pfizer director explains in the video, there is a revolving door
between the company and U.S. regulators, who seek jobs at Pfizer after
they leave the government.
He called on Congress to get some answers.
WATCH: @TuckerCarlson Covers @pfizer "Bizarre" response to #DirectedEvolution ADMITTING their involvement in COVID-19 mutations pic.twitter.com/KsfcjAD3IF
— Project Veritas (@Project_Veritas) January 31, 2023
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