Jeenah Moon/Getty Images News The U.S. state of Kansas has sued Pfizer ( NYSE: PFE ), alleging that the pharmaceutical giant misled the public about the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed with Germany's BioNTch ( NASDAQ: BNTX ).
The state officials filed the lawsuit in the District Court of Thomas County on Monday, arguing that the New York-based company violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by making false statements about the vaccine's effectiveness. "Pfizer made multiple misleading statements to deceive the public about its vaccine at a time when Americans needed the truth," Kansas' attorney general Kris Kobach remarked. The state is seeking unspecified monetary damages for the violation.
"The representations made by Pfizer about its COVID-19 vaccine have been accurate and science-based," a Pfizer ( PFE ) spokesperson said, adding that the company views the lawsuit as without merit. Kansas alleged that the company falsely claimed that its initial COVID-19 vaccine which targeted the original virus strain also protected against mutated forms of the virus, and the shot not only prevented illness but also transmission. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also filed a similar lawsuit against Pfizer ( PFE ) over the marketing practices for its COVID-19 vaccine.
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