Government scientist felt pressured to approve contract for work on drug Trump touted

WASHINGTON — The federal scientist recently ousted from a senior position overseeing research on coronavirus vaccines felt pressured by Trump administration officials to award a $21 million contract to a Florida laboratory to study an anti-malaria drug touted by the president as a COVID-19 treatment, according to a person familiar with the incident.

Rick Bright, who was abruptly removed this week from his senior post at the Department of Health and Human Services, was told by officials to approve the contract for a clinical trial of hydroxychloroquine to Alchem Laboratories, a small drug-development firm, the person said.

“He was very concerned and was ordered to do it,” said the person.

The contract with the laboratory introduces a new element to an episode that burst into public view this week. The controversy began when Bright said he had been demoted because he resisted pressure from administration officials to provide widespread access to hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug that President Donald Trump repeatedly has touted as a potential cure for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/government-scientist-felt-pressured-to-approve-contract-for-work-on-drug-trump-touted/ar-BB137r4i?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=hplocalnews