S
hortly after the 2016 election, Novartis chief executive Joe Jimenez was looking for a consultant to help understand how the Trump administration would approach health policy. So, when a friend suggested Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, Jimenez took the call, and personally suggested following up, according to a letter Novartis sent to senators in June and publicly released Friday.
These previously unreported details provide a new look into how Cohen convinced a major global pharmaceutical company to spend over a million dollars for advice about the administration, a deal the company later characterized as a “mistake.”
Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT Plus. Try it FREE for 30 days!
SUBSCRIBE TODAYWhat is it?
STAT Plus is a premium subscription that delivers daily market-moving biopharma coverage and in-depth science reporting from a team with decades of industry experience.
What's included?
- Authoritative biopharma coverage and analysis, interviews with industry pioneers, policy analysis, and first looks at cutting edge laboratories and early stage research
- Subscriber-only networking events and panel discussions across the country
- Monthly subscriber-only live chats with our reporters and experts in the field
- Discounted tickets to industry events and early-bird access to industry reports
About the Author
Looks like one year of Cohen’s services was all Novartis needed. Seems like Cohen was serving as lobbyist and should have registered despite his advice from counsel:
https://www.statnews.com/2018/07/13/novartis-michael-cohen-contacts/