Why is Pfizer participating in the health debate?
Pfizer is willing to contribute to, and facilitate public debate, because of our commercial interest as a supplier and our commitment to the development of effective health services. We believe that this will help to produce positive health outcomes that will benefit patients. As one of the principal suppliers of prescription medicines to the NHS, the shape of health policy has a direct impact on Pfizer's business.
What is Pfizer?
Pfizer was established just over 150 years ago by two German cousins who emigrated to New York. Today Pfizer is the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical company.
What is Pfizer's business?
Pfizer researches, develops and manufactures medicines for both humans and animals. We discover and develop innovative, value-added products that improve quality of life for people and animals around the world.
Is Pfizer Committed to the UK?
Pfizer first came to the UK in 1951 during a period of great worldwide expansion. We established a site to manufacture penicillin at Sandwich in Kent. Fifty years later, Sandwich is now our largest and most important research and development centre outside the USA.
Since 1990 Pfizer has invested over £1 billion in the UK. As our UK research facilities have developed, so our investment has increased. In 2000, we invested £375 million in research and development.
For every £1 Pfizer earns from UK sales, £1.90 is spent in the UK economy. For every one person directly employed by Pfizer there are five more employed in companies supplying goods and services to Pfizer and its employees.
Every day over 2.7 million Britons take a Pfizer medication.
Pfizer's European research and development headquarters is based at Sandwich. From here Pfizer also manufacturers and exports medicines to 80 countries around the globe.
The company has won the prestigious Queen's award for Export twice, and most recently in 2001, the Technological Achievement award.
At Sandwich 6,000 people are employed. We are the area's biggest employer and the backbone of the local economy. Sandwich is far more than a source of local income and jobs: it is globally linked to extensive scientific networks which further enhance our positive contribution to the UK's science base.
Pfizer opened its new business headquarters at the Walton Oaks site near Reigate in Surrey in December 2001. The site is the headquarters for sales and marketing for the UK human and animal health businesses and support services.
What are our products?
Pfizer has an extensive portfolio of innovative medicines. We are one of the top three suppliers of medicines to the NHS across a wide variety of therapeutic areas. Medicines to combat infection are one of our strengths and have been since we manufactured penicillin during the Second World War. Today, we have a portfolio of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals.
Some of our most prescribed medicines are to treat disorders of the central nervous system such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Our portfolio includes a novel treatment for rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis treatment.
Pfizer has leading products to help control disease and improve quality of life for patients with diabetes, allergies and erectile dysfunction. We are also leading the fight against cardiovascular disease by offering the industry's broadest range of therapies to combat the dangers presented by high cholesterol, angina and hypertension.
Pfizer has an extensive range of consumer healthcare products including TCP(TM), LISTERINE(TM), BENYLIN(TM) and CALPOL(TM). Other household names owned by Pfizer are Wilkinson Sword and Tetra fish food.
The Pfizer Animal Health Group provide some of the world's most innovative and successful medicines (for parasites, a wide range of infections as well as vaccines) which offer support for both companion and livestock animals.
