Leaked Memo Raises Questions About Big Pharma’s Stance on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

A lobbying group in the pharmaceutical sector has declared its support for President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s initiative to “Make America Health Again.” This came after a document surfaced, suggesting that the group may have plotted to exclude Kennedy from Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda.

According to the leaked document, which reportedly outlines notes from a meeting held by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s Vaccine Policy Steering Committee on April 3, 2025, there is a call to push for Kennedy’s removal. The document expresses concerns about the erosion of investor confidence in vaccine development, alongside worries about Kennedy’s anti-vaccine views, which members perceive as a threat to public health.

A spokesperson from BIO responded, clarifying that the organization did not produce the alleged memo, stating they had no prior knowledge of it and it does not accurately reflect their goals or mission.

“We are aligned with [Health and Human Services] Secretary Kennedy and the President’s mission to ‘Make America Healthy Again,’” the spokesperson emphasized, reiterating their commitment to the importance of vaccines for public health and the well-being of Americans.

This spokesperson also directed inquiries to a resource about vaccination, but avoided addressing the authenticity of the controversial lobbying claims directly.

Meanwhile, the founder of the Brownstone Institute, which published the document, acknowledged that they did so before confirming the details with the involved parties.

Jeffrey Tucker of the Brownstone Institute commented, “The statement from BIO that it supports RFK’s MAHA agenda is, of course, welcome.”

James Lyons-Weiler, who authored the Brownstone piece that featured the memo, shared that he found the source credible but was careful to mention the need for thorough scrutiny, highlighting that the document’s authenticity had not been verified independently.

Lyons-Weiler also indicated he would append BIO’s denial to the original publication, emphasizing the importance of protecting source confidentiality in line with journalistic ethics.

He welcomed any further information or clarification from BIO or others who might have relevant insights, underscoring his focus on truth rather than any specific narrative.

The Daily Signal reached out to various entities linked to the memo for confirmation or denial of its claims. Updates will follow based on any feedback received.

BioCentury, a publication focused on pharmaceutical news, reported that they were able to verify parts of the memo. However, they stated that the memo’s claims about BIO planning to lobby Congress for Kennedy’s dismissal do not represent the organization’s actual policy.

The leaked document outlines a two-pronged strategy intended to promote vaccines. This includes a public campaign titled “Why We Vaccinate,” and efforts to engage conservative individuals within and outside the administration.

Names mentioned in the document include prominent figures such as Mehmet Oz, Scott Gottlieb, and former Senator Richard Burr. A senior adviser for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which Cassidy chairs, stated there was no awareness of the memo’s existence.

Notably, the document quotes Jim Wassil of Vaxcyte, expressing concerns that investors seem hesitant for the next several months, with the vaccine approval process described as both unpredictable and politicized.

BIO’s John Crowley reinforced that vaccines are paramount for the organization, serving as an important indicator of future actions by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Gottlieb reportedly argued that the MAHA initiative serves as a facade for an anti-vaccine agenda, stressing the need to differentiate between those hesitant about vaccines and anti-vaccine mandate groups. He expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a rift between Trump and Kennedy, given that non-vaccine issues are also at play.

In a phone conversation, Jeffrey Rose, a supporter of the MAHA initiative, expressed disbelief over the memo’s content and suggested that Gottlieb is catering to Big Pharma’s interests. Rose noted that achieving true health reform would require probing deeply into various aspects of the medical system, including agricultural practices and environmental health, alongside vaccinations.