This June 15, 2020 photo shows a bottle and tablets of Pepcid antacid in Washington. The U.S. government's Pepcid project has revealed what critics describe as the Trump administration’s disregard for science and anti-corruption rules meant to guard against taxpayer dollars going to political cronies or funding projects that aren’t rigorously designed.
That contract is now under scrutiny after a government whistleblower accused a senior administration official of rushing the deal through without the scientific oversight necessary for such a large federal award. And the doctors who initially promoted the Pepcid idea are locked in a battle for credit and sniping over allegations of scientific misconduct.
“And I’ve been very critical of this approach to the COVID-19 epidemic, which I’ve likened to throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. I consider trials like this one to be largely a waste of time and money when they’re very unlikely to show positive results.”The story of how an over-the-counter heartburn remedy garnered top-level government interest as a COVID-19 medicine began several months ago in eastern China. Or maybe it was in rural Virginia -- even that point is in dispute.
When the virus hit in late 2019, Callahan was already in Wuhan working with Chinese infectious disease researchers. Callahan said he and the Chinese doctors analyzed the medical records of more than 6,000 hospitalized patients, 1,100 of whom had severe COVID-19 disease, according to information released by researchers conducting the clinical trial.
Science and political impatience clashed quickly, documents show. A week after Trump’s emergency declaration, Kadlec received a blunt warning from the White House. Federal pandemic response scientists at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, were shut out of these early conversations about famotidine. Rick Bright, BARDA’s director at the time, would later file a whistleblower complaint alleging unethical conduct by agency leadership, and point to the Pepcid trial as a key example.
Their concerns were ignored, according to Bright’s complaint and government records. Kadlec oversees Bright’s agency, and wanted the Pepcid contract approved. Fast.The fast-moving Pepcid proposal, however, snared the interest of the HHS’s senior leadership, including Secretary Alex Azar, according to the internal emails.
rplardner JHDearen $21 million is hardly any money nowadays.
rplardner JHDearen It’s only a waste of money because it didn’t work. Would have been praise if it had.
rplardner JHDearen No! No! This can’t be true.
rplardner JHDearen Voters are to be exexuted.
rplardner JHDearen i take pepcid daily does this mean i'm immune to C-19?
rplardner JHDearen Makes sense a story like this would come out the same day it’s announced the admin is purchasing (funding) 100mil vaccine doses that could change the game before the year is out. Not even hiding the ball any more
rplardner JHDearen Who owns Pepcid AC? And how much did they contribute to Trumps candidacy?
rplardner JHDearen Pepcid?
rplardner JHDearen What happened to 'draining the swamp'? Sounds like he is increasing the swamp.
rplardner JHDearen I'm for trying good n' plenty...i heard a rumor, i think I'll text him!
rplardner JHDearen Did anyone try windex?
rplardner JHDearen Can someone please tell the POTUS that he forgot to try this application: 😃 Trump 🙄
rplardner JHDearen Lots of things “ fizzle” when you’re trying something new. Always
rplardner JHDearen USA is the new _______ A)taj mahal B)trump university C)trump steaks D) all of the above
rplardner JHDearen Anyone else remember the segments 'Fleecing the government'? Now our own President is doing it....
rplardner JHDearen Jesus where does Trump get these millions to just throw around for crap. It must some how benefit Jared, him, and their associates. Maybe Trump should tout Preparation H and put it around his mouth to protect him from inadvertently talking s**t.
rplardner JHDearen Any excuse for kickbacks, bribes, and putting American tax dollars into private pockets. As nothing to do with helping Americans.
rplardner JHDearen Thanks for trying potus!
rplardner JHDearen Next trump should try adrenachrome 😂
rplardner JHDearen If you pay me 400$ I’ll test out flintstone vitamins.
rplardner JHDearen Y'all are looking at this as anything other than a bailout. There was no study
rplardner JHDearen WHO OWNS THAT SHIT SOMEONE PROFITED!!
rplardner JHDearen Hey Trump it only works if you use it as a suppository. You might want to try a ten tab insert.
rplardner JHDearen
rplardner JHDearen At this point they're just throwing money at this thing
rplardner JHDearen Trump - 'Hey - it was worth a shot. I've also heard great things about chewing on a stick' Breaking News : Trump Org applies for a patent on sticks
rplardner JHDearen Maybe we can stuff those into Trump's mouth to stop his verbal diarrhea.
rplardner JHDearen Who did the $21M belong to that they spent?
rplardner JHDearen They spent money in an attempt to find a cure? What kind of sick bastards are they
rplardner JHDearen But better and tastier than bleach.
rplardner JHDearen It's really surprising this 'stable genius' could bankrupt casinos.
rplardner JHDearen This must be a scam. Who is getting this money to do these phony/fake tests and how does it flow back in whole or in part?
rplardner JHDearen I wonder how much of this is actually money laundering?
rplardner JHDearen Trump’s official COVID19 response: Direct blame elsewhere, throw money everywhere and see if anything sticks.
rplardner JHDearen This is what happens when you hand over power to stupid people
rplardner JHDearen WHAT!!!!!!
rplardner JHDearen Money probably went to his grifters
rplardner JHDearen So the latest trump snake oil cure is a bust?
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