Is it true that Pfizer’s research director admitted: the pharmaceutical company is creating new variants of coronavirus for selfish reasons?

A video purportedly filmed on a hidden camera is circulating online in which Pfizer Research Director Jordon Trishton Walker reports that the company is deliberately creating new variants of the coronavirus. We decided to check whether one of the Pfizer executives actually made such a statement.

The video was originally published on Twitter, where by February 8, 2023, it had received 46 million views and 102,300 retweets. In Russian, this video was reported, in particular, by Telegram channels “Ostashko! Important"(343,000 subscribers, 131,000 views at the time of writing this analysis) and "Coachman"(81,000 subscribers, 44,000 views). The video was also shared by users Facebook* and VKontakte, bloggers Instagram* And YouTube. They talked about the video and the media: “Constantinople"("Such a revelation from the director has never happened before: Pfizer is secretly creating new variants of coronavirus"), IA "Red Spring"(Pfizer carries out 'directed mutation' of SARS-CoV-2 - Project Veritas"), "Russian newspaper"(Pfizer is studying a mutating 'coronavirus' to continue profiting from vaccines"), EADaily (“The COVID virus is a cash cow for Pfizer: sensational confessions of the director of the pharmaceutical company”) and even a magazine Maxim (“Insider of the day: Pfizer is developing new strains of COVID to make vaccines and make billions”).

Claims that Pfizer is specifically developing new variants of the coronavirus are based on three videos. First video was posted by Twitter user @Project_Veritas on January 26, in which a person identified as Jordon Trishton Walker, Pfizer's director of research, talked about the company's projects and research. In particular, he mentioned a line of research called gain of function, which alerted commentators. Judging by the angle and the situation surrounding Walker, the video was filmed with a hidden camera in a bar or restaurant. The next day, January 27, a second video. The same hero as in the first video, in the same setting, was already filmed by an openly revealing cameraman. The action of the second video took place immediately after the first - apparently, the hero’s interlocutor, who was filming him with a hidden camera, walked away, and another person sat in his place, introduced himself as a journalist and asked to comment on the statements just made, including about strengthening the function. In the video, Walker says he thought he was on a date and said untrue things to impress the other person. Finally, the third video clip was released on February 3. The action in it definitely takes place before the second video, but it is not possible to correlate it with the first. In this video, Jordon Walker talks about the negative effects of vaccines on the reproductive system.

What's disturbing about the video?

Firstly, the first and third videos consist of many chopped fragments; before the interviewee’s answers, the question that was asked to him is not always heard. Secondly, fact checkers from Newsweek, the camera is positioned in front of the interviewee in such a way that during some remarks we do not see the speaker’s mouth and cannot unambiguously say whether he really utters individual phrases in the context of answering the question posed or whether this is editing, when an audio replica is skillfully superimposed on the video track at those moments when the speaker’s hands cover his mouth.

Thirdly, although the authors try to pass off the interview as a story about the company’s current projects, English-speaking experts from Newsweek notethat grammatically the interviewee's answers fall into the probability category. That is, Pfizer is not conducting experiments on mutating the virus and developing adapted vaccines, but could do this. Moreover, although the interlocutors talk about certain experiments (perhaps not currently being carried out, but hypothetical), neither the interviewer nor the speaker indicates whether, in principle, we are talking about experiments on living beings or about experiments in a test tube. For a more accurate understanding of the video, it is necessary to study the unedited original source. Newsweek made this request to Project Veritas, but information about the project's response as of February 8 article Newsweek doesn't.

What are gain of function studies and what does Pfizer have to do with it?

Probably, the greatest fear among viewers was caused by a fragment about research in the field of gain-of-function research (in Russian this term is usually translated as “research aimed at enhancing function”). Indeed, conducting research on a deadly virus to enhance its function seems inhumane. However, here there is a clash of scientific terminology with its everyday perception. Gain of function research is not a pandemic novelty or a way to kill all of humanity. One of the first research was conducted in 2011 at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in the USA. Scientists then studied how the H5N1 avian influenza virus must mutate to become respiratoryly infectious in ferrets. As a result of their experiments, scientists found out which amino acids in the virus must mutate in order for it to acquire the ability to infect mammals through respiratory droplets released during the coughing and sneezing of their fellow tribesmen. This knowledge, if necessary, could allow the development of vaccines that prevent the spread of a virus with characteristics such as “infects mammals” and “is transmitted through the air.” At the same time, as a result of the gain-of-function experiment, the virus became less lethal, since prevalence and lethality are usually inversely related.

In general, research aimed at enhancing functions raises certain concerns on the part of the scientific community, but the main reason for such concerns is ensuring and maintaining the proper level of biocontrol and biosafety in laboratories where relevant experiments are carried out. In 2017, the US National Institutes of Health released statement, which said that “conducting this type of research safely, securely and responsibly will maximize public health benefits.” Thus, despite the scary name, research aimed at enhancing the function of the virus is not an attempt to kill the entire population of the Earth, but a way to study the virus, determine the optimal direction for developing vaccines and actions to reduce its lethality. 

Finally, on January 27, 2023, Pfizer published on its official website, a statement in which it said that it does not conduct research aimed at enhancing the functions of COVID-19, as well as experiments on the directed evolution of the virus. There, the company talked about what it had done in similar areas before and what it was doing now. Specifically, “the original SARS-CoV-2 virus was used to express the spike protein from new variants of concern” (VoC). According to the company, “This study gave us the opportunity to quickly evaluate the ability of an existing vaccine to induce antibodies that neutralize a recently identified variant of concern.” In addition, Pfizer is conducting research in vitro to identify potential resistance mutations to nirmatrelvir, one of two components of an anti-coronavirus drug called Paxlovid (approved FDA in 2021). Much of this work is carried out using computer modeling or mutations of the 3C-like (also known as chymotrypsin-like, or, as they say in Russian-language publications, the main) protease, the non-infectious part of the virus. All experiments, Pfizer notes, are carried out in laboratories that meet the third level of biosafety (there are four in total, more details in material our colleagues from Fastcheck.kz). 

In addition to talking about research aimed at enhancing functions, in the third video, Jordon Walker talks about how the vaccine allegedly provokes disruptions in the menstrual cycle and affects the reproductive system. Walker does not provide detailed explanations as to why this happens. However, these are not new concerns. Back in August 2021 “Verified” sorted it out, can the vaccine cause changes in the cycle (yes, short-term it can) and is it dangerous (no, not dangerous). Scientists have no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine can somehow cause infertility.

Who is Jordon Trishton Walker?

Since on the sites mentioned below there are two spellings of the hero's name: Jordon and Jordan - for consistency, making sure that we are talking about the same person, we will write his name as Jordon.

Forbes journalist Bruce E. Lee undertook I tried to find information about Jordon Trishton Walker on the Internet, but failed. A Google search yielded no publications to confirm that a person by that name served as director of research at Pfizer. A LinkedIn search also yielded no results, no matter what spelling the Forbes journalist tried. More success finding information about Jordon Trishton Walker reached journalists from the Snopes fact-checking project. Firstly, they found video titled "2018 Southwestern Medical School Slideshow," which showed Walker in a white lab coat, as well as other photographs of him. Secondly, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center website has mention one Jordon Trishton Lee Walker with additional information "preliminary course in surgery, Tufts Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts)." Third, a person with that name is licensed as a physician in New York State. And fourthly, a letter to an email address made up of the first and last name, as well as the Pfizer domain name, was sent successfully, and the letter with an intentionally misspelled name was returned to the sender with the note “the addressee does not exist.” That is, on the Pfizer domain name there is a mailbox in the name of a person (or people) named Jordon Walker. 

We also managed to contribute to the search for the mysterious Jordon Trishton Walker. Using a facial similarity analysis service PimEyes we discovered photograph graduates of the Harvard Urologic Surgery Residency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. There in the top row (far right) is a man who looks very much like the speaker from the video. This is consistent with the fact that video the interviewer at some point (0:18) says: “As a urologist, you should understand this.” 

A search for a urologist named Jordon Trishton Walker yields several sites that allow you to study the professional achievements of the doctor of interest to us. Data from these sites do not contradict existing ones, but slightly complement them. Firstly, in addition to a valid medical license in the state of New York, Walker had a license in the state of Massachusetts that expired in 2020 (which is logical, because during these years he completed his internship and residency there). Secondly, Walker participated V writing several scientific work on urologydedicated to technology prostatectomy, risk factors for urethral atrophy and reduction of complications after urological operations. As can be seen from the topics of his work, he has nothing to do with immunology or genetics, but in the field of urology he can truly be called a specialist.

In the second video Project Veritas (it was published a day later) Jordon Trishton Walker reports that he is not a scientist by training, but came from a consulting firm. Asked if he works for Pfizer, Walker says, “No, I was a contractor!” When asked if he currently works for Pfizer, Walker again replies: “No! What are you talking about here? It is strange that with so many scientific works, Walker for some reason does not consider himself a scientist.

Interestingly, the videos introduce Walker as the Director of Research and Development for Strategic Operations and Scientific Planning for mRNA at Pfizer, and some Russian media in their materials significantly “promoted” the man to his position - right up to the director of the entire pharmaceutical company Pfizer. How easy it is to verify by visiting the official website corporation, from 2019 to the present, this post has been held by Albert Burla.

In the second clip, right after James O'Keefe himself takes the place of the previous interviewer with a hidden camera, Jordon Trishton Walker says that he didn't know he was doing an interview, but thought he was on a date and made up everything he said about Pfizer research to impress. He demands to call the police, a fight ensues, then the cameraman films the ongoing scandal. At the end of the recording, both O'Keefe and Walker leave the restaurant.

Who first published the video and why is it important?

The original source of the video is the Twitter account of Project Veritas, an American far-right activist group founded by James O'Keefe in 2010. Group known because regularly issues video for the most topical topics that intentionally mounted in such a way as to discredit media and political groups with opposing views. Also project distributes disinformation And popularizes theories conspiracies. Back in 2016, the American fact-checking project Snopes checked four videos released by Project Veritas about alleged election irregularities by the Democratic Party. Then Snopes noted that these frames were probably edited and assembled in the desired order (in other cases, journalists from other publications were able to do this prove), and since Project Veritas refuses to publish the original videos, it is impossible to determine the authenticity of such videos.

It is also noteworthy that in the same 2016, the founder of the group, James O'Keefe undertook an attempt at provocation against employees of the Open Society Foundations** (founded by George Soros): he called the organization and left a message on the answering machine asking them to call back, but forgot to hang up. As a result, O'Keefe's seven-minute conversation with an unknown person, to whom he told about the true goals call - impersonate a potential donor, infiltrate the organization and shoot hidden camera videos that could be used to discredit the foundations.

Beginning in September 2021, the group Project Veritas began producing a series of misinformation videos about vaccines. On September 20, they published a 13-minute video of a conversation between nurse Jodi O'Malley and doctor Maria Gonzalez from Arizona. The video claims that the government is hiding data on adverse reactions caused by COVID-19 vaccines. Experts from First Draft, a group that brings together scientists who study the spread of disinformation, refuted abstracts contained in the video on September 23. In the same video, a nurse and a doctor discussed VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System). “Verified” wrote in the materials “Verified” that the data from this system are irrelevant for judgments about undesirable side effects of vaccines.Is it true that vaccination against COVID-19 has led to a sharp increase in the incidence of myocarditis?” And “Is it true that children and teenagers in Ireland are suffering and dying more often from cardiovascular disease?"

Next, activists published four more videos, which disassembled Cristina Tardaguila, founder of the Brazilian fact-checking agency Lupa and former assistant director of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN). Project Veritas videos falsely claimed:

• that vaccination in the USA is planned to be forced for everyone (no, it will eventually be for all categories of citizens didn't);
• that vaccination is extremely dangerous for children and adolescents (we discussed this myth in the material “Is it true that children and teenagers in Ireland are suffering and dying more often from cardiovascular disease?");
• that antibodies provide better protection against the virus than vaccines (an analysis of this statement is in our material "Is it true that it is safe to get vaccinated if you have antibodies after an illness?");
• that vaccines contain cells from aborted human embryos (we wrote about why this is not true in the material “Is it true that you can become infected with prion diseases through the coronavirus vaccine?").

It's worth noting who James O'Keefe invited to comment on Pfizer's Jordon Trishton Walker. This is conspiracy theorist Robert Malone, who promoted the treatment of coronavirus with ivermectin and famotidine (a heartburn medicine), about the unproven effectiveness of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 “Verified” wrote previously. Malone also spread misinformation:

• about the toxicity of the spike protein (we discussed this statement in the materials “Is it true that vaccination leads to menstrual irregularities, uterine bleeding and even infertility?? And "Do vaccines really change our DNA?";
• about the danger of antibody-dependent enhancement after vaccination of people who have recovered from the disease (for more details on why this is a myth, see our material "Is it true that it is safe to get vaccinated if you have antibodies after an illness?");
• that WHO has recognized the ineffectiveness of vaccines (parsing Our colleagues Factcheck.kz have this myth and a complete dossier on Robert Malone).

The validity of the conclusions of the expert, who has been repeatedly noted for conspiracy theories and the spread of disinformation, raises at least serious doubts.

Thus, before us are fragments of interviews cut in random order, the correctness of which is impossible to judge without a complete unedited video. Moreover, one of the videos shows Walker himself admitting that he did not suspect that this was a recorded interview, but thought it was a date and was lying to impress. His words are confirmed by the fact that Walker, judging by the discovered materials, although a doctor, specializes in a completely different area of ​​healthcare, and the fact of his work at Pfizer could not be clearly confirmed. At the same time, it is reliably known that these videos were released by a group of activists who have been repeatedly seen spreading disinformation, including by publishing phrases taken out of context. Moreover, a well-known conspiracy theorist, whose statements have been analyzed by fact checkers more than once, was invited to comment on the fragments. Most likely, the video was created in order to create a negative impression of pharmaceutical companies, demonize them and promote an anti-vaccination agenda.

Updated March 31, 2023. We made stylistic changes to the text, changed its composition, and also added a paragraph to the beginning describing the chronology of what happened.

*Russian authorities think Meta Platforms Inc., which owns the social network Facebook, is an extremist organization; its activities in Russia are prohibited.

**Open Society Foundations recognized undesirable organization on the territory of Russia. 

Cover image: Marco Verch | ccnull.de | CC-BY 2.00

Not true

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