Pfizer has sued a long time employee for stealing confidential documents, including some related to its vaccine, as she prepared to jump to a competitor.
Pfizer filed a complaint in San Diego federal court on Tuesday accusing a woman of breaching her confidentiality agreement by uploading more than 12,000 files without permission.
The alleged materials include internal assessments and recommendations about the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer's relationship with its German vaccine partner, and presentations related to cancer antibodies.
Pfizer said that Li tried to cover her tracks, even providing a "decoy" laptop.
The New York-based drugmaker said that Li had misled them about what she took, when and why she did it, and where those files could be found.
According to Pfizer, Li is leaving the company after 15 years, and is likely to join a California-based company on November 29.
Li could not be reached for comment. Xencor is not a party in the lawsuit.
Pfizer said competitors have been trying to recruit for a long time.
Pfizer's lawyers can review accounts and devices where she might have stored them after a judge temporarily blocked Li from using the company's trade secrets.
A December 9 hearing was scheduled to consider a longer injunction.
