About
- 2000: Merged with Warner-Lambert for $90 billion, 3th major M&A in the last 20 years (-2009).
- 2003: Merged with Pharmacia for $59,515 million, 8th major M&A in the 2000s.
- 2009: Merged with Wyeth.
- Revenue: $50 billion in 2009; $48.3 billion in 2008; $48.4 billion in 2007.
- Adjusted Income: $14.2 billion in 2009; $16.4 billion in 2008; $15.1 billion in 2007.
- Net Income: $8.6 billion in 2009; $8.1 billion in 2008.
- Research & Development: $5.1 billion in 2002; $7.1 billion in 2003; $7.5 billion in 2004; $8.1 billion in 2007; $7.5 billion in 2008; $7.7 billion in 2009.
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Wyeth Merger
Pfizer
- Combined $68 billion in cash, shares and loans, including some $22.5 billion lent by five major Wall Street banks.
- Lead financial advisors: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan.
- Financial advisors: Barclays and Citigroup.
- Legal advisor: Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.
- Exchange and paying agent: Computershare Trust Company.
Financing
- Cash: $22.5 billion.
- Debt: $22.5 billion.
- Equity: $23.0 billion.
Combined Company
- Revenues: $71.3 billion.
- Employees: 129,500.
Strategic Rationale
- Combination creates the world's premier biopharmaceutical company.
- Best portfolio of assets, pipeline and capabilities in the industry.
- Strong revenue diversification across numerous growing therapeutic areas, leading technology and research platforms, and a premier global footprint.
- Enhanced ability to innovate, through patient-centric business units, access to leading scientific capabilities, and greater resources to invest in research and development.
- Combines entrepreneurial, focused businesses with global scale and reach.
- Positioned for long-term EPS growth in changing health care environment.
Global Industry Leadership
- 4th largest biologics company.
- 4th largest vaccines business.
- Enhanced position in key disease areas, such as immunology/inflammation, Alzheimer's disease and oncology.
- Number one primary care company.
- Number one in cardiovascular.
- Number two in CNS, with a complete portfolio.
- Number two in infectious disease.
- Combined company builds upon its excellence in animal health.
1849-1930
- 1849: Open Charles Pfizer & Company as a fine-chemicals business.
- 1862: As demand for painkillers, preservatives, and disinfectants soars during the Civil War, Pfizer expands production of tartaric acid (used as a laxative and skin coolant) and cream of tartar (effective as both a diuretic and cleansing agent) as well as other vital drugs to help meet the needs of the Union Army. Among these are iodine, morphine, chloroform, camphor, and mercurials, which, in addition to medicinal applications, are used in the emerging field of photography, the new medium photographer Mathew Brady employs to chronicle the Civil War.
- 1868: The expansion propelled by the Civil War continues and Pfizer's revenues double.
- 1880: Using imported concentrates of lemon and lime, Pfizer begins manufacturing citric acid. Pfizer soon becomes America's leading producer of citric acid. As new drinks like Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, and Pepsi-Cola gain popularity, demand for citric acid soars.
- 1891: On December 27, cofounder Charles Erhart dies and leaves a partnership worth $250,000 to his son William. However, the agreement stipulates that Charles Pfizer can buy William Erhart's share at half its inventory value, an option Charles Pfizer quickly exercises, consolidating ownership of the company in his hands.
- 1906: Company sales exceed $3 million.
- 1919: World War I caused shortage of calcium citrate that Pfizer imported from Italy for the manufacture of citric acid, the company began a search for alternative supply. Commercial production of citric acid from a fungus that ferments sugar developes expertise in fermentation technology, skills applied to the mass production of penicillin during World War II.
1931-1961
- 1936: After building new plant and initiating 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week production schedule, becomes the world's leading producer of vitamin C.
- 1938: Pushes ahead with production of vitamin B-2, or riboflavin, and eventually develops a vitamin mix that includes riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, and iron. From vitamin B-12, moves on to vitamin A, and by the late 1940s, becomes the established leader in the manufacture of vitamins.
- 1941: Pfizer responds to an appeal from the United States Government to expedite the manufacture of penicillin to treat Allied soldiers fighting in World War II.
- 1944: World's largest producer of penicillin.
- 1950: Penicillin becomes very inexpensive and Pfizer decides to search for new antibiotics with greater profit potential. Terramycin (oxytetracycline), a broad-spectrum antibiotic, becomes the first pharmaceutical sold in the United States under the Pfizer label.
- 1951: In a major international expansion, Pfizer operations are established in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, England, Mexico, Panama, and Puerto Rico.
- 1952: Agricultural Division dedicated to offering cutting-edge solutions to animal health problems.
- 1953: Acquisition of J.B. Roerig and Company, specialists in nutritional supplements.
- 1955: A fermentation plant opens in England, laying the foundation for Pfizer's research and development operations in Great Britain. Pfizer partners with Japan's Taito to manufacture and distribute antibiotics.
- 1958: New pharmaceutical plants begin production in Mexico, Italy, and Turkey.
1962-1992
- 1967: Vibramycin (doxycycline hyclate), the company's first once-a-day broad-spectrum antibiotic is introduced and quickly becomes a top seller.
- 1968: Acquisition of Quigley, the division sold asbestos-containing insulation products until the early 1970s.
- 1971: Acquisition of Mack Illertissen, a prosperous manufacturer of pharmaceutical, chemical, and consumer products oriented to the needs of the German marketplace. The Central Research Division is established, combining pharmaceutical, agricultural, and chemical R&D worldwide.
- 1972: Pfizer crosses the billion-dollar sales threshold. Pfizer establishes a microbiology laboratory for soil screening in Nagano, Japan.
- 1976: Introduction of Minipress (prazosin HCI) in the United States, for the control of high blood pressure.
- 1979: Pfizer purchases Shiley.
- 1980: Feldene (piroxicam) becomes one of the largest-selling prescription anti-inflammatory medications in the world and, ultimately, Pfizer's first product to reach a total of a billion United States dollars in sales.
- 1983: Full ownership of Taito.
- 1984: Glucotrol (glipizide), for diabetes, is launched.
- 1985: Nagano laboratory is expanded into a major discovery laboratory complex where researchers are part of worldwide teams seeking novel ways to circumvent the inflammation process in diseases like arthritis and asthma, and new non-addictive analgesics to manage pain.
- 1986: Introduction of Unasyn (ampicillin sulbactam), injectable antibiotic.
- 1988: The Agricultural Division is renamed the Animal Health Division.
- 1989: Launch of Procardia XL (nifedipine) extended-release tablets, an innovative once-a-day medication for angina and hypertension.
- 1990: Diflucan (fluconazole), a powerful antifungal, is launched in the United States and 15 additional countries.
- 1992: Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) for treatment of depression, Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) for control of angina and hypertension, and Zithromax (azithromycin) for respiratory and skin infections.
1993-2003
- 1993: The FDA approves gabapentin (Neurontin) for treatment of seizures.
- 1995: The Animal Health Division purchases SmithKline Beecham's animal health business, making Pfizer a world leader in the development and production of pharmaceuticals for livestock and companion animals. Pfizer builds a pharmaceutical plant in Dalian, China and expanding throughout growing markets in the Pacific Rim. Cardura (doxazosin mesylate) is introduced in the United States for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia.
- 1998: Launch of Viagra (sildenafil citrate), a breakthrough treatment for erectile dysfunction. Invests more than $3.3 billion in research and development. Pfizer and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation partner to establish the International Trachoma Initiative to help eliminate blinding trachoma.
- 1999: Approval of Aromasin for advanced breast cancer in Europe and U.S.
- 2000: Pfizer and the Ministry of Health of South Africa sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Diflucan Partnership Program to provide Diflucan (fluconazole), an antifungal to treat two fungal opportunistic infections associated with AIDS. Pfizer opens the largest building in the world dedicated to the discovery of new medicines for human and animal health on its Groton, Connecticut research campus.
- 2001: Building of a regional treatment and training center on the campus of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda as part of the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention. Geodon (ziprasidone hydrochloride), a new antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia, is launched.
- 2002: Vfend (voriconazole), an orally and intravenously administered antifungal indicated for treatment of serious fungal infections, is launched. The Pfizer Foundation launches a three-year initiative to provide grants to support training and capacity building for HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
- 2003: Energizer Holdings buys Wilkinson Sword from Pfizer. Relpax (eletriptan HBr), a medication developed specifically for the treatment of migraines, is launched.
2004
- Partnership with Accordia, the Academic Alliance, and Makerere University, established the Infectious Diseases Institute as the preeminent center in sub-Saharan Africa for infectious disease training, treatment, and research within Makerere University.
- Pfizer purchase La Jolla R&D Campus. Pfizer manages the world's largest pharmaceutical research operations, which include more than 13,000 scientists worldwide working on approximately 400 projects in discovery research and 225 projects in development.
- Pfizer purchases Meridica Limited from PA Consulting Group.
2005
- Pfizer acquires Idun Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of therapies to control apoptosis, a process of cell death that occurs in a broad range of diseases.
- Pfizer acquires Bioren Inc.
- Pfizer acquires Vicuron Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- The AIDS Support Organization, with support from Pfizer, opens a new AIDS counseling and training center in Uganda.
- Global collaborative research and license agreement with Incyte Corporation for the development, manufacture and marketing of novel oral CCR2 antagonists.
2006
- Pfizer acquires Rinat Neuroscience Corp., a privately held biotechnology company that develops therapeutic proteins for the treatment of diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, Alzheimer's disease, migraine prophylaxis, cachexia, obesity, pain, neuropathy and Parkinson's disease.
- Non-exclusive collaboration with Monogram Biosciences Inc. to make HIV Co-Receptor Tropism Assay available for patient use on a global basis.
- At Clinton Global Initiative Pfizer announced a 5 year (2007-2012) program to prevent infection and spread of malaria. Partners in this initiative include Family Health International and the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation in Ghana, Population Services International in Kenya and IntraHealth in Senegal. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine serves as the lead global evaluator, collaborating with local evaluation organizations on the ground.
- Agreement to sell Pfizer Consumer Healthcare business to Johnson & Johnson for $16.6 billion in cash.
- License agreement with TransTech Pharma Inc. for the development and commercialization of small and large molecule compounds target the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts, potential use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
2007
- Pfizer Foundation provides $7.5 million in grants to 20 U.S. community-based AIDS service organizations.
- Worldwide collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to research, develop and commercialize DGAT-1 inhibitors, anticoagulant and metabolic compounds.
- Agreement with Express Scripts Inc.
- New research program with European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes focused on cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes.
- Agreement with Nektar Therapeutics on Exubera and Next Generation Inhaled Insulin franchises.
- Exclusive worldwide collaboration with Adolor Corporation to develop and commercialize novel compounds, ADL5859 and ADL5747, for the treatment of pain.
- Pfizer acquires CovX, a privately-held biotherapeutics company specializing in preclinical oncology and metabolic research and a developer of a biotherapeutics technology platform.
- Pfizer acquires Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc.
2008
- Pfizer and Scil Technology GmbH finalize agreement for novel cartilage growth factor.
- Pfizer acquires Serenex Inc. to extend oncology pipeline and access novel technology platform.
- Pfizer Animal Health acquires Catapult Genetics Pty. Ltd., focused on developing and commercializing innovative livestock DNA tests and gene markers to assist global food producers, processors and retailers in improving profitability and quality in the global food chain, and Bovigen LLC, which markets DNA technology, including products in the U.S., Canada, Central America and South America.
- Agreement with Taisho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for worldwide (excluding Japan) collaboration to research, develop and commercialize TS-032, a new schizophrenia drug.
- Pfizer's wholly-owned subsidiary Explorer Acquisition Corp. purchases Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Licensing and development agreement with AVANT Immunotherapeutics, acting through its wholly-owned subsidiary Celldex Therapeutics Inc., for novel therapeutic vaccine candidate for brain cancer.
- Launch of Champix Tablet 0.5mg/1mg (varenicline tartrate), a novel smoking cessation aid for smokers with nicotine dependence in Japan.
- Pfizer Japan receives manufacturing and marketing authorization for SUTENT (sunitinib malate), indicated for gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.
- Collaboration agreement with University of California, Caltech, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts and Entelos to re-examine the regulatory mechanisms of human energy metabolism, diabetes and obesity pathobiology.
- Pfizer sells the near-174-acre Parke-Davis research complex in Ann Arbor, Michigan to the University of Michigan for $108 million.
- Pfizer Animal Health acquires from Schering-Plough a number of animal health products for sale in the European Economic Area (Swine E. coli Vaccines, Equine Influenza and Tetanus Vaccines, Ruminant Neonatal and Clostridia Vaccines, Rabies Vaccines, Companion Animal Veterinary Specialty Products, Parasiticides & Anti-inflammatories).
- Oncology and diabetes worldwide collaborative research and license agreement with Five Prime Therapeutics Inc.
- $15 million dollar collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
- Agreement with EyeCyte Inc., an early stage stem/progenitor cell-based ophthalmology research and development company based in La Jolla, California, secures its Series A funding.
- Global agreement with Medivation Inc. to develop and commercialize Dimebon for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease.
- Collaboration with MannKind Corporation for certain Exubera patients to transition to MannKind's inhaled insulin product, Technosphere.
- Novel partnership with Grameen Health, an affiliate of Grameen Bank (Bangladesh), to explore sustainable healthcare delivery models for the developing world.
- Pfizer and UCB Pharma form new company "Cyclofluidic" to accelerate drug discovery process.
2009
- Series of agreements with Aurobindo Pharma Ltd., a pharmaceutical company based in India, to commercialize medicines that are no longer patent protected, and have lost market exclusivity in the United States and Europe. Pfizer has acquired rights to 39 generic solid oral dose products in the United States and 20 in Europe, plus an additional 11 in France. These medicines cover a broad range of therapeutic areas including cardiovascular disease and Central Nervous System disorders, and will be commercialized in the U.S. through Pfizer's Greenstone subsidiary. Pfizer has also acquired rights to 12 sterile injectable products in the United States and Europe. These medicines are antibiotics including penicillins and cephalosporins.
- Agreement with Bausch & Lomb to co-promote Xalatan, Alrex, Lotemax, Zylet and besifloxacin, products for the treatment of ophthalmic conditions.
- First pharmaceutical company to be accredited by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs for ensuring the protection of human subjects taking part in early-stage clinical trials.
- Agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture.
- Collaboration and license agreement with University College London to advance development of stem cell-based therapies.
- License agreement with Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation for human embryonic stem cells patents for the development of new drug therapies.
- Graceway Pharmaceuticals LLC, a portfolio company of GTCR Golder Rauner LLC, acquires worldwide commercial rights for 3 investigational dermatological molecules from Pfizer and the related transferred or licensed intellectual properties.
- Joint initiative with the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences to support fundamental research in China.
- Partnership with Fudan University to establish a graduate program in Clinical Data Management and Statistical Programming. 3 year Masters Degree program, first of its kind in China, designed to develop qualified professionals to support clinical research which is rapidly increasing in China.
- Collaboration with Private Access, the innovator in privacy-enhanced search technology, to create a new online community aimed at increasing clinical trial awareness and participation.
- Pfizer joins Chevron; Exxon Mobil; Lockheed Martin; Fleishman-Hillard; Novus International; Marathon Oil Company; Northrop Grumman; South African Airways; USAID; AECOM; Colgate Palmolive; Hess Corporation; allAfrica.com; Jeune Afrique; Abbott Fund; The Africa Report; Acrow Bridges; Raytheon; SOC; Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; JR Boulle Corporations; Merck & Co. Inc.; Oceanic Bank; PriceWaterhouseCoopers; SEACOM; Tetra Tech; Africa Export-Import Bank; American Cancer Society; Boeing Company; CCA HIV/AIDS Initiative; Emerging Capitals Partners; Development Finance International; Gauteng Province; L-1 Identity Solutions; Millennium Challenge Corporation; Mars Inc.; MITC Investimentos; EMEA Finance; New Africa U.K. Ltd.; Spintellingent; and Buchanan Renewables, as sponsors of the 7th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit.
- Agreement with Eisai to provide Aricept to patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease continues.
- Agreement with two subsidiaries of Mylan Inc. relating to a generic version of Vfend (voriconazole), an antifungal agent.
- Global research and development network. 5 main research sites that serves as central hubs for research activities in BioTherapeutics, PharmaTherapeutics and Vaccines: Cambridge, Mass.; Groton, Conn.; Pearl River, NY; La Jolla, Calif.; and Sandwich, UK. Supplemented by specialized research capabilities, such as monoclonal antibody discovery in San Francisco, regenerative medicine work in Cambridge, UK, and research and development activities in Shanghai, China.
- Agreement with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative designed to facilitate advancements in the battle against human African trypanosomiasis, visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, which afflict vulnerable populations in the developing world. Scientists in institutes affiliated with DNDi to test at least 150,000 compounds in the Pfizer library against the parasites Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi. Undertaken at the Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia for human African trypanosomiasis and the Institut Pasteur Korea, for visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
- Agreement with Protalix to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa, a plant-cell expressed form of glucocerebrosidase in development for the potential treatment of Gaucher's disease. Pfizer receives exclusive worldwide licensing rights for the commercialization of taliglucerase alfa, while Protalix retains the exclusive commercialization rights in Israel. Taliglucerase alfa is the first enzyme replacement therapy derived from a proprietary plant cell-based expression platform using genetically engineered carrot cells.
- Collaboration with Crown Bioscience Inc. to research and develop novel therapeutics for Asian cancers. Specific treatments for Asian cancers represent an important unmet medical need as well as a significant market opportunity.
- Agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited to co-promote Takeda's Actos (pioglitazone HCl) in China with Tianjin Takeda Pharmaceuticals, joint venture of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Tianjin Lisheng Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Currently the world's 5th largest pharmaceutical market, China is expected to be the 3rd largest market by 2011. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the diabetes epidemic has the greatest potential to increase in China, because of its population size, rapid urbanization and economic expansion, estimated to have more than 50 million diabetics by 2025.
2010
- New collaboration with Strides Arcolab to commercialize off-patent sterile injectable and oral products in the United States through Established Products Business Unit. Finished dosage form products will be licensed and supplied by Strides Arcolab and Onco Laboratories Limited and Onco Therapies Limited, two joint ventures between Strides Arcolab and Aspen Pharmacare Holdings (South Africa), in which each has a 50% ownership interest.
- Co-development agreement with Debiopharm Group to conduct a Phase 3 trial of tremelimumab (CP675,206), fully human anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with unresectable Stage IV melanoma.
- Strategic alliance agreement with Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. to commercialize Xiaflex in the 27 member countries of the European Union and 19 other European and Eurasian countries.
- Agreement with DxS (wholly owned subsidiary of Qiagen N.V.) to develop a companion diagnostic test kit for PF-04948568 (CDX-110), an immunotherapy vaccine in development for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.
- Alliance to collaborate on the Keas platform to enable Health and Wellness experts to author, sell and distribute personalized online Care Plans directly to patients.
- Eli Lilly and Company, Merck and Pfizer Inc. forms Asian Cancer Research Group Inc., company established to accelerate research in the most commonly-diagnosed cancers in Asia. Over the next 2 years commitment to create one of the most extensive pharmacogenomic cancer databases known to date, composed of data from approximately 2,000 tissue samples from patients with lung and gastric cancer.
- Strategic alliance with Acacia Living Inc. developing an at-home assisted living connectivity platform.
- Collaboration and research licensing agreement with Stemgent Inc. Scientists involved in cell-based research will be able to purchase fully licensed compounds with pharmaceutical modes of action as off-the-shelf products for use in non-clinical experiments.
- Agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture for the development, access and delivery of a fixed-dose combination treatment consisting of azithromycin dihydrate and chloroquine phosphate for the Intermittent Preventive Treatment of P. falciparum malaria in pregnancy. Plan to seek marketing authorization in selected malaria-endemic African countries.
- Novel public-private collaboration with World Bank (eTransform Initiative) to focus on enhanced use of Information and Communication Technologies' transformative power to improve healthcare delivery, specifically the supply chain, in developing countries, starting with Africa.
- $2 million in scholarships over 3 years administered in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.
- 5 year agreement, $22.5 million and unprecedented access to information regarding more than 500 pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical candidates to Washington University in a partnership that focuses on discovering new uses for existing compounds.
- Pfizer Global Manufacturing plans to reconfigure worldwide plant network to create a fully aligned manufacturing and supply organization from the combined networks of Pfizer and Wyeth. Recommendations to cease operations at 8 manufacturing sites in Ireland, Puerto Rico, and the United States by the end of 2015, as well as to reduce operations at 6 other plants in Germany, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Result in a global reduction of approximately 6,000 jobs over the next years. Solid-dose network plants: Freiburg (Germany), Amboise (France), Vega Baja and Barceloneta (Puerto Rico), Ascoli (Italy), Newbridge (Ireland), and Illertissen (Germany). Aseptic network plants: Puurs (Belgium), Perth (Australia), Catania (Italy), and Kalamazoo (US). Bbiotechnology network sites: Grange Castle (Ireland), Strangnas (Sweden), Algete (Spain), Havant (UK), and Andover (US). Consumer Healthcare network plants: Guayama (Puerto Rico), Montreal (Canada), Albany (US), Aprilia (Italy), Hsinchu (Taiwan), and Suzhou (China).
- Pfizer Animal Health acquires Microtek International Inc., recognized innovator in aquaculture vaccines, R&D and healthcare diagnostic services.
- Collaboration with Epocrates Inc. to give healthcare providers mobile access (iPhone app) to the Pfizer Medical Information Group to obtain scientific answers to their product questions or to report an adverse event.
- $100 million investment into the expansion of Singapore Nutrition Plant, helping it continue to set the standard for the manufacture of high-quality, safe and environmentally sustainable nutritional products for infants and children. The expansion (total investment in the plant to $372 million, one of the largest nutritional plants worldwide) to 91,963 square meters boosts the plant's production capacity by 50% and increases the plant's ability to supply nutrition products to Singapore and key markets such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
- Establishment of the Global Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, entrepreneurial network of partnerships with leading academic medical centers to transform research and development by accessing leading translational researchers. The University of California, first collaboration in the network.
Products
2004
- FDA approves Spiriva HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) for the long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a lung disease primarily caused by smoking. Discovered and developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and co-promoted in the U.S. with Pfizer.
- Approval to market Inspra (eplerenone) in The Netherlands for the treatment of heart failure in patients who have had a recent heart attack.
- Approval from the European Commission to market Lyrica (pregabalin) for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain and as an adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in patients with epilepsy.
- Caduet (amlodipine besylate and atorvastatin calcium), the first single pill that treats both high blood pressure and high cholesterol, is launched.
- FDA approves VFEND for treatment of serious bloodstream infections caused by Candida in nonneutropenic patients; Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection), for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, commercialized and developed with Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Geodon (ziprasidone HCI), for the treatment of acute bipolar mania including manic and mixed episodes; Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), for the prevention of cardiovascular disease; Zyrtec (cetirizine HCl) for the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (itching and hives of unknown causes) in children aged two years and older; Zithromax, once-daily, three-day Treatment for Acute Bacterial Sinusitis.
2005
- European approval of Aromasin, hormonal therapy for early breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
- FDA approves Lyrica (pregabalin) to treat two distinct forms of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia and adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy; Aromasin, for adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in postmenopausal women; Lipitor, to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack in people with type two diabetes; CELEBREX for the relief of the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine; Revatio (sildenafil citrate, active ingredient in Viagra), treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension; depo-subQ provera 104 (medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension), for the management of pain associated with endometriosis.
2006
- The European Commission approves Exubera (inhaled human insulin) for the treatment of adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and Sutent (sunitinib malate) for advanced and/or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
- Eraxis (anidulafungin), a new medicine to treat certain infections caused by Candida, a yeast-like fungus that can cause serious infections in hospitalized patients or patients with compromised immune systems, is launched.
2007
- In response to Mylan Laboratories launching a generic competitor to Norvasc, Pfizer makes available its own generic amlodipine besylate product through the company's Greenstone subsidiary.
- FDA approves Maraviroc, a therapy for treatment-experienced patients infected with CCR5-tropic HIV-1; Lyrica (pregabalin) capsules CV, for the management of fibromyalgia; Cerenia (maropitant citrate), the first and only medication for the prevention and treatment of canine vomiting; Selzentry, for combination antiretroviral treatment of adults infected with only CCR5-tropic HIV-1 detectable; Dalbavancin, once-weekly two-dose antibiotic for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections.
2008
- FDA approves Convenia (cefovecin sodium), the first and only antibiotic for dogs and cats available in a single veterinarian-administered injectable dose, and TOVIAZ (fesoterodine fumarate), for the treatment of overactive bladder.
- License and supply agreement with Sigma-Tau, Italian pharmaceutical company, to market Eurartesim, a potential new treatment for malaria in Africa. The product is developed jointly by Medicines for Malaria Venture and Sigma-Tau.
2009
- European Commission approves swine vaccine, Improvac, against boar taint.
- FDA approves first canine cancer therapy.
- FDA approval of Geodon (ziprasidone HCI) Capsules, for maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder as an adjunct to lithium or valproate in adults; Revatio (sildenafil) Injection, intravenous formulation of Revatio, the only FDA-approved phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor available in both tablet and intravenous formulations indicated for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- The European Commission grants marketing authorization for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine, 13-valent, adsorbed), indicated for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease, pneumonia, and acute otitis media caused by 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in infants and children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age. Invasive pneumococcal disease includes sepsis, meningitis, bacteremia, bacteremic pneumonia, and empyema. Prevenar 13, built on the scientific foundation of Prevenar (Pneumococcal Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed), provides the broadest serotype coverage of any pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, including the 7 serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F) in Prevenar plus 6 additional serotypes (1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A), which together represent the most prevalent invasive disease-causing strains in young children worldwide. Prevenar 13 is the only pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to include serotypes 3, 6A, and 19A. Both Prevenar and Prevenar 13 use CRM, a carrier protein used in various approved pediatric conjugate vaccines for more than 20 years. Available in Europe since 2001, Prevenar is available in more than 100 countries and more than 300 million doses have been distributed worldwide. In the European marketing authorization, the schedule recommended for Prevenar 13 consists of 4 doses, 3 primary doses, followed by a booster dose between 11 and 15 months of age. Alternatively, when Prevenar 13 is given as part of a routine infant immunization program, Prevenar 13 may be administered as a 3 dose series, 2 primary doses followed by a booster dose. Infants and children who have begun immunization with Prevenar may switch to Prevenar 13 at any point in their dosing schedule. It is also recommended that children up to 5 years of age who have completed vaccination with Prevenar should be offered coverage against the six additional serotypes included in Prevenar 13.
- Pfizer Animal Health announces Swine Influenza Vaccine, pH1N1 - Killed Virus, approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for vaccination of healthy swine, including pregnant sows and gilts, 3 weeks of age or older against SIV subtype H1N1.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Pfizer Inc. announce FDA approval of SPIRIVA HandiHaler (tiotropium bromide inhalation powder) for the reduction of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
2010
- FDA approval for Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine Diphtheria CRM197 Protein) for children 6 weeks through 5 years.
- 10 year agreement to provide Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine Diphtheria CRM197 Protein) to infants and young children in the world's poorest countries under the terms of the Advance Market Commitment (administered by the GAVI Alliance) for pneumococcal disease.
- Agreement with Ergonex Pharma to acquire investigational treatment (terguride) for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
- Following a request by the FDA, worldwide suspension of the osteoarthritis clinical program for the investigational compound tanezumab and suspension of the chronic low back pain and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy studies in the clinical program for the investigational compound tanezumab. Investigation of the compound continues in some areas of high unmet medical need, including cancer pain.
- Research partnership with Samsung Medical Center to jointly analyze tumors from Korean patients to generate gene expression profiles and that may ultimately direct therapies and enhance clinical outcomes in the patients with liver cancer.
- Eisai Inc. and Pfizer announce FDA approval of new once-daily, higher-dose Aricept (donepezil HCl) 23 mg tablet for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease.
- FDA approval of the use of a Prefilled Dual-Chamber Syringe for administration of XYNTHA Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) Plasma/Albumin-Free to hemophilia A patients.
- European Commission approvals of SUTENT (sunitinib malate) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with disease progression in adults; new chewable form of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) suitable for use in children aged 10 or older with high levels of LDL cholesterol and high triglycerides due to the inherited disorder familial hypercholesterolemia and other primary causes, which can increase the risk of heart disease and premature death; Revatio (sildenafil) solution for injection for patients who are currently prescribed oral Revatio and who are temporarily unable to take oral medicine, but are otherwise clinically and haemodynamically stable.
- In the interest of patient safety, Pfizer is discontinuing clinical studies worldwide and voluntarily withdrawing Thelin (sitaxentan) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in regions where it is approved (the European Union, Canada and Australia).
- Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine Diphtheria CRM197 Protein) introduced into the first childhood immunization program for pneumococcal disease in the developing world under the auspices of the Advance Market Commitment (administered by the GAVI Alliance) in Nicaragua.
Scott S. Reuben
- Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. Educated at Columbia University. Graduated from medical school at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1985 and anesthesiology residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.
- 5 research grants between 2002 and 2007 by Pfizer. Paid member of the company's speakers bureau, giving talks about Pfizer drugs to colleagues.
- March 11, 2009: Admits that fabricated much of the data underlying his research and never conducted the clinical trials that wrote about in 21 journal articles dating from at least 1996, in some cases, even invented the patients. Reported favorable results from painkillers including Pfizer's Bextra, Celebrex and Lyrica, Merck's Vioxx and Wyeth's antidepressant Effexor, and wrote to the FDA urging the agency not to restrict the use of many of the painkillers he studied, citing his own data on their safety and effectiveness.
1856
- William R. Warner launches his own drug store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1886
- Gives up and then focuses solely on drug manufacturing under the name William R. Warner & Co.
Jordan Wheat Lambert launched Lambert Pharmacal Company in St. Louis. Main product was Listerine antiseptic, marketed only to medical professionals. Lambert soon realized that Listerine had huge consumer marketing potential, and in 1914, began to mass-market Listerine through an advertising campaign that is still a case model in business schools.
1908
- Pfeiffer Chemical, St. Louis-based company, buys William R. Warner & Co., keeps the Warner name, and expands the company through acquisition.
1955
- Creation of the Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Company.
1962
- Acquisition of American Chicle Company, New York City-based company among the world's largest producers of gums and mints. American Chicle's flagship brand name, Adams, was well known around the world and its products included Dentyne, Chiclets and Trident gums, and Certs and Clorets mints.
1965
- Acquisition of a small cough tablet company in the United Kingdom, expanding the brand known as Halls Mentholyptus to global stature.
1970
- Acquisition of the Schick wet-shave product line from Eversharp, company founded in 1929 by Jacob Schick, whose magazine-loading razor was inspired by the repeating rifle.
- Acquisition of Parke-Davis, once the world's largest drugmaker. Parke-Davis traces its history back to 1866, when Hervey Parke and George Davis formed a small company in Detroit, Michigan. They pioneered the standardization of medications and built the first modern pharmaceutical laboratory. They also developed the first organized, systematic method of clinically testing new drugs. In the first half of the 20th Century, Parke-Davis introduced a number of breakthrough products, including the first bacterial vaccine, a pure form of adrenaline, and Dilantin (phenytoin), the first widely available treatment for epilepsy and seizure. Dilantin remains a valuable therapy against convulsions. After World War II, Parke-Davis popularized a number of anti-infectives, developed the Salk polio vaccine for widespread use, and introduced a new line of oral contraceptives.
1993
- Acquisition of Wilkinson Sword, combining it with Schick to create the world's second largest wet-shave business, currently owned by Energizer Holdings.
1996
- Co-marketing agreement with Pfizer on Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), a new entry into the statin class of lipid-lowering agents. Discovered by Parke-Davis Research and introduced in 1997, Lipitor is the largest-selling pharmaceutical of any kind worldwide ($12.9 billion sales in 2006).
1999
- Acquisition of Agouron, leader in protein-based drug design and marketer of the protease inhibitor, Viracept (nelfinavir mesylate).
- The University of Michigan receives $5 million from the Parke Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division of Warner-Lambert Company to help the University establish a new Program in Bioinformatics. Bioinformatics merges advances in molecular biology and genetics with advanced computer science technology. The goal is increased understanding of the complex web of interactions linking the individual components of a living cell to the integrated behavior of the whole organism.
2000
- Merged with Pfizer.
Warner-Lambert used activities not usually associated with sales promotion, including continuing medical education and research, sponsored articles about the drug for the medical literature, and alleged suppression of unfavorable study results, to promote gabapentin. Within 5 years the drug was being widely used for the off-label treatment of pain and psychiatric conditions. In 2004, Warner-Lambert admitted to charges that it violated FDA regulations by promoting the drug for pain, psychiatric conditions, migraine, and other unapproved uses, and paid $430 million to resolve criminal and civil health care liability charges. Today it is a mainstay drug for migraines, even though it was not approved for such use in 2004.