Pfizer: Products/Projects

Pharmaceuticals Segment

Pfizer's Pharmaceuticals Segment includes its human pharmaceuticals and animal health businesses, as well as Capsugel, a producer of two-piece capsules used in manufacturing prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements. Most of the company's human pharmaceutical revenues come from products in three major therapeutic classes: cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases and central nervous system disorders. The company also has products for the treatment of diabetes, erectile dysfunction and allergies, as well as a co-promoted product for arthritis. In 2000, the company had eight human pharmaceutical products with sales to third parties of $1 billion (£680,4 million) or more each. These products were Lipitor, Norvasc, Zoloft, Neurontin, Celebrex, Zithromax, Viagra and Diflucan.

Lipitor, Pfizer's largest-selling product, is for treatment of high lipids, cholesterol and triglycerides, in the bloodstream. Norvasc is a once-a-day medication for hypertension (high blood pressure) and angina (heart pain). The company's other cardiovascular products include Procardia XL, Cardura and Accupril/Accuretic. In the infectious disease medicine category, the company's major products are Zithromax, Diflucan and Viracept. Pfizer's other major pharmaceutical products include Glucotrol XL, for the treatment of diabetes, and Zyrtec, used for the treatment of allergies and related problems. In February 1999, Pfizer participated in the launch of Celebrex with G.D. Searle & Co., a division of Pharmacia Corporation, the discoverer and developer of Celebrex. Celebrex is used for the relief of symptoms of adult rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Pfizer's Animal Health Group discovers, develops, manufactures and sells products for the prevention and treatment of diseases in livestock, poultry and companion animals. Among the products the company markets are parasiticides, anti-inflammatories, vaccines, antibiotics and related medicines for livestock and companion animals. The company's products under Animal Health Group include Revolution, an anti-parasitic for cats and dogs, which is marketed as Stronghold in Europe; Rimadyl, a pain and inflammation reliever; Vanguard vaccines for canine enteric disease; Leukocell vaccines for feline leukemia; Clavamox/Synulox anti-infectives; and Anipryl for Cushing's disease and Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in dogs.

The Company's Animal Health Group produces anti-parasitic products, vaccines and anti-infectives for cattle, swine and poultry. Among these are Dectomax, which protects cattle, swine and sheep from internal and external parasites; RespiSure/Stellamune vaccines to prevent a type of pneumonia and the related problems of slow weight gains, decreased feed efficiency and lack of uniformity in size in swine; Advocin, an antibiotic used to treat respiratory and internal infections in cattle and swine; Terramycin LA-200, an injectable version of the Terramycin broad-spectrum antibiotic used for various animal diseases; Valbazen and Paratect products to treat internal parasites; and BoviShield vaccine for cattle respiratory disease.

Consumer Products Segment

In 2000, Pfizer's Consumer Healthcare (CHC) Division had sales of $2.5 billion (£1,701 bn). CHC's products include non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and compete primarily in the oral care, upper respiratory care, skin care, digestive health and eye care categories. Among the company's brands in the United States are Listerine mouthwash and toothpaste; Benadryl antihistamine for allergies; Sudafed treatment for sinus congestion; Zantac 75 for prevention and relief of heartburn; Rolaids antacid tablets; Actifed for relief of cough, cold and flu; Benylin cough products; Sinutab for sinus pain relief; Efferdent denture cleaner; Neosporin antibiotic ointment; Nix lice treatment; e.p.t. home pregnancy tests; Visine eye care; BenGay topical analgesic; Cortizone hydrocortisone skin cream; Lubriderm skin care lotions; Unisom sleep aids; Desitin ointments for treatment of diaper rash; Plax pre-brushing dental rinse; and Barbasol shave creams and gels.

Pfizer's Adams Division markets a broad range of confectionery products. Among the Company's brands are Halls cough drops; Trident sugarless gums; Bubbaloo, Bubblicious, Chiclets and Freshen-Up gums; and Dentyne, Certs, Clorets and Max Air breath-freshening gums and mints. Pfizer's shaving Products business consists of Schick and Wilkinson Sword razors and blades, and a range of manicure and toiletry products. The Company's Shaving Products business includes Protector razor products with wire-wrapped blades to prevent nicks and cuts, the Silk Effects and Lady Protector razor line for women, Slim Twin razors with a rubber handle for increased control, the FX product line with flexible cartridges and Xtreme III razors with a triple-blade system.

Another subsidiary of the company, Tetra, provides of products for the ornamental fish food market. These products include TetraMin fish foods and various fish care accessories.

Projects

Pfizer depicts itself as a "Champion of Innovation", claiming it boasts the industry's largest pharmaceutical R&D organisation: Pfizer Global Research and Development (PGRD), with a combined budget of $4.7 billion (£3,18 billion) in research and development this year alone [5].

Pfizer claims to have 156 discovery and development projects underway in nineteen categories, from diabetes and inflammation to osteoporosis and cancer. ‘The company has six major research campuses, located at key points throughout the world. One is based in Sandwich, England. Pharmaceutical research started at Sandwich in 1957 with a staff of six scientists. Today, Pfizer has more than 1,500 employees at the site, their largest research facility outside the United States.

Pfizer’s research staff exceeds 12,000 scientists, and the company has a combined library of nearly 2 million compounds to screen against cellular and subcellular targets –or receptors- in the search for promising candidates to develop. Pfizer is involved in a wide variety of research collaborations and a large number of licensing agreements with universities, institutes, and organisations throughout the world. ‘Alliances with more than 250 partners in academia and industry strengthen our leadership in science and biotechnology.’[6]

References

[5] www.pfizer.com/pfizerinc/about/focus/research.htm (source: Pfizer, date viewed: 02/10/01) [6] Ibidem