MHRA admitted in FOI protecting Pfizer's reputation is more important than the public knowing about their mRNA vaccines

From a FOPI reply in mid-2020

It is mentioned towards the end of this post:

3 simple, easy to answer questions I asked the MHRA - and they couldn't

But thought I would post it here as a standalone quote:

Thank you for your email.

The information we are permitted to give out is in the already referenced PAR. The studies and other data have been reviewed by UK (and European) experts in the relevant field.

Regarding your request for information on any studies done for vaccine ingredient ALC-0159, this information is exempt from release under Section 41 (Information provided in confidence) and Section 43 (Commercial interests) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

Section 41 is an absolute exemption and no consideration of the public interest is required, except to state that we consider its disclosure to constitute an actionable breach of confidence.

Section 43 is a qualified exemption and a consideration of the public interest should be made. We have considered the public interest and cannot see any public interest argument that outweighs the commercial harm in releasing information that can be used by competitors in the product development of their own rival products. Examples of public interest arguments would be a major public health risk, or a major procedural failure or irregularity.

To me the sentences “The information we are permitted to give out is in the already referenced PAR.” and “We have considered the public interest and cannot see any public interest argument that outweighs the commercial harm in releasing information” means there is more and they are hiding behind Section 41 and Section 43 to avoid making public the fact that the novel excipients I requested information on have never been safety tested for use in human medicines.

So protecting Pfizer is more important than the public interest - in their own words.