Pfizer Will Fall Under Philippines Price Control; Company Ads Deny "Bribe" Attempt

The Philippines Department of Health said that Pfizer's offer to distribute discount "Sulit" cards to Filipinos prior to a maximum retail price law coming into effect in the archipelago nation was not bribery, according GMA News.

In fact, the Pfizer card may not be used in lieu of a discount, the DOH said. Under a list of drug prices published in GMA, Pfizer's Norvasc, currently selling at P70 per 10 mg, will fall to P9.60 - 38.50

The bribe allegation -- made by Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile -- also spurred Pfizer to take out full-page ads in Philippines newspapers decrying the claim:

In its "open letter to the Filipino people," Pfizer said it was "deeply concerned" over the accusations of bribery in recent news reports.

"We categorically deny this allegation and consider this a grave affront to our reputation ... We have always sought to provide wider access to our high quality medicines," it said.

• Previously:
• "Bribe" or No, Pfizer May Get Its Way in Philippines
• Pfizer "Bribe" Scandal in Philippines Heats Up; Company Offered Posters to the President
• UPDATED: Pfizer Accused of "Bribe" to Stave Off Price Control Law in Philippines
• Pfizer Catches Flak for Giving Drug Discounts to Some But Not All Filipinos
• Pfizer to Close S.F. Biotech Center in Favor of Unit Accused in Patent Suit
• Pfizer Patent Suit Could Make Elan Bapineuzamab Talks Go a Whole Lot Easier
• Pfizer's Foreign Viagra Ads: Mailman Jokes; Space Sperm and the Fountain of Youth
• Pfizer's Off-Label Bextra Team Was Called "The Highlanders"