Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer jacked up the price for its anti-epilepsy drug by 2,600% overnight. Did Pfizer executives really think they’d get away with it?

Well, they didn’t: Pfizer just got hit with a record £84.2m fine from our competition regulator. But instead of copping to its exploitative price hike scheme, Pfizer is planning to appeal the fine.

Pfizer executives think they are above the law. First, they exploit a loophole to dodge UK price regulations. Next, they make moves to appeal a fine that came out of an in-depth investigation from the Competition and Markets Authority. Meanwhile, taxpayers are stuck paying for Pfizer’s exorbitant prices that cost the NHS millions. This has to stop now.

Tell Pfizer to stop cheating UK taxpayers and pay the CMA fine in full.

By debranding its anti-seizure phenytoin sodium medication, Pfizer was able to dodge UK price regulations. Free to set the price with no oversight, Pfizer’s price hikes forced the NHS to spend an extra £48m to ensure we had access to their anti-seizure medication. That’s money that comes out of our pockets.  

This is far from an isolated incident. For years, Pfizer has been taking advantage of vulnerable customers who depend on its medications. In the U.S. alone, Pfizer added $1 billion in quarterly revenue this year just by raising the prices on over 100 products.  

We’re glad UK regulators are standing up to Pfizer and protecting customers who depend on Pfizer medications. But the last thing we need is for Pfizer to mount a long, costly appeals process that shows other corporations they can exploit us and get away with it. That’s why we’re coming together now to show Pfizer that we expect it to play by the rules and pay its fine.