The relationship between Big Government and Big Pharma has come under scrutiny during the pandemic, with new data from the National Institutes of Health revealing that the agency and its scientists collected $710 million in royalties from late 2021 through 2023. These payments were made by private companies, including pharmaceuticals, to license medical innovations from government scientists.
The majority of these royalties, $690 million, went to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) led by Dr. Anthony Fauci and 260 of its scientists. This represents a significant increase in cash flow from the private sector to the NIH during the pandemic years, totaling $1.036 billion.
The lack of transparency surrounding these royalty payments is concerning, with information tightly held by the NIH. Organizations like OpenTheBooks.com have had to sue to uncover the details of these transactions, and even then, key information such as the amount of royalties paid to individual scientists remains redacted.
Dr. Fauci, a prominent figure in the COVID-19 response, is set to testify before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, where he will face questions about these royalty payments and recent revelations of efforts to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act. Senator Rand Paul has sponsored the Royalty Transparency Act, aiming to bring more transparency to these financial relationships.
As the public awaits Fauci's testimony and potential actions to address these concerns, the focus remains on the need for accountability and transparency in government spending and decision-making. The ongoing legal battles and calls for legislative action underscore the importance of ensuring that government officials prioritize the general welfare over personal interests.