Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla of Pfizer has pulled out of testifying before the European Parliament following scrutiny over a secretive deal to provide Europe with more Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

Bourla was scheduled to testify before the European Parliament's COVID-19 committee on Oct. 10. The committee was meeting with key European officials and Big Pharma executives involved in the vaccine purchasing process. The committee's goal was to learn more about how to quickly purchase vaccines for future pandemics. Big Pharma CEOs who have participated in committee proceedings include Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel and senior executives from AstraZeneca and Sanofi. 

However, Bourla backed out after an audit report into the European Union's vaccine procurement strategy was published in September. This raised new questions about Bourla's contacts with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. These conversations preceded a multibillion-euro vaccine contract.

Committee chair and Member of the European Parliament Kathleen Van Brempt of Belgium said in a statement that she "deeply regrets" Bourla's decision not to attend the Oct. 10 hearing. She noted that she was looking forward to her discussion with Bourla.

Bourla's cancellation comes just two weeks after the fully vaccinated and boosted Big Pharma CEO tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time. Janine Small, president of international development markets at Pfizer, will attend in his place. Pfizer said Small "has been identified as best placed to support the committee in meeting their objectives."