Pfizer imposes restrictions on drugs used for lethal injections in USA

14 May 2016

A leading US drugmaker has now joined the list of companies that have refused to supply the drugs that are used in the USA to implement capital punishment. Lethal injection has long been the most common form of execution in the USA.

Pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) said on Friday: "We are enforcing a distribution restriction for specific products that have been part of, or considered by some states for, their lethal injection protocols. Pfizer strongly objects to the use of its products as lethal injections for capital punishment….Pfizer makes its products solely to enhance and save the lives of the patients we serve."

Pfizer’s distribution restriction limits the sale of the seven products to a select group of wholesalers, distributors, and direct purchasers under the condition that they will not resell these products to correctional institutions for use in lethal injections, the company said.

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