Pfizer's Nigeria Disaster Just Got a Lot Worse. $7 Billion Worse.

New documents show that Pfizer, which already faces state criminal charges in northern Nigeria and civil charges to the tune of $2 billion, also faces a string of criminal counts and $7 billion in civil claims brought by federal Nigerian authorities in the capital of Abuja.

Pfizer used an experimental drug, Trovan, on children, against the protests of an internal whistleblower, Dr. Juan Walterspiel, who was promptly fired. He later sued the company, Pfizer settled and moved on. Or so Pfizer thought.

According to the Washington Post today, "Pfizer spokesman Bryant Haskins said, "We think all the allegations are inflammatory; we simply don't agree with them. We believe we conducted the clinical study in an ethical manner that helped save lives."

Of course Pfizer thinks the allegations are inflammatory. Dead children, billions in damages, a fired whistleblower with a ruined career. Last time I spoke to Dr. Walterspiel he virtually cried on the phone.

Very inflammatory. Poor Pfizer.

Pfizer faces criminal charges and $2 billion fine . . . and what do you think happened to the whistleblower?

Nigeria has brought criminal charges against Pfizer for the company's alleged role in the deaths of children who received an unapproved drug called Trovan during a meningitis epidemic. Authorities filed eight charges, including "criminal conspiracy" and "voluntarily causing grievous harm."

They also filed a civil lawsuit seeking more than $2 billion in damages and restitution from Pfizer. More in Washington Post.

And what do you think happened to the internal Pfizer whistleblower who tried to stop the whole thing?

You got that one right: Pfizer fired his ass.

Read the original story from year 2000 in this article in the Washington Post:

"One Pfizer child disease specialist, Juan Walterspiel, complained that the experiment was too risky – oral Trovan had never been tested on a child, he later alleged in a lawsuit. The suit ultimately was dismissed at the request of the physician and Pfizer; neither side would comment on the litigation for this article."

So, Pfizer settled with Walterspiel.