Pfizer: Difference between revisions

In 1986, Pfizer acquired the worldwide rights to Zithromax ([[azithromycin]]), a macrolide antibiotic that is recommended by the [[Infectious Disease Society of America]] as a first line treatment for certain cases of community-acquired pneumonia, from [[Pliva]].<ref name="best">{{cite web |url=https://www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/details.jsp?id=906 |title=Azithromycin: A world best-selling Antibiotic |publisher=[[World Intellectual Property Organization]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Mandell LA, Wunderink RG, Anzueto A, etal |date=March 2007 |title=Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society consensus guidelines on the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults |url=https://www.thoracic.org/statements/resources/mtpi/idsaats-cap.pdf |journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases |volume=44 |issue=Suppl 2 |pages=S27–72 |doi=10.1086/511159 |pmc=7107997 |pmid=17278083}}</ref>

In 1991, [[William C. Steere, Jr.]] became [[chief executive officers]] of the company, succeeding [[Edmund T. Pratt Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-29-fi-903-story.html |title=Pfizer Inc., New York, has elected its... |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 29, 1991}}</ref>

In 2003, Pfizer merged with [[Pharmacia]], and in the process acquired [[G.D. Searle, LLC|Searle]] and [[SUGEN]]. Searle had developed Flagyl ([[metronidazole]]), a [[nitroimidazole]] antibiotic medication used particularly for [[anaerobe|anaerobic]] [[bacterium|bacteria]] and [[protozoa]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Metronidazole Monograph for Professionals |url=https://www.drugs.com/monograph/metronidazole.html |publisher=[[Drugs.com]]}}</ref> Searle also developed [[celecoxib]] (Celebrex) a [[COX-2 inhibitor]] and [[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]] (NSAID) used to treat the [[pain]] and [[inflammation]] in [[osteoarthritis]], [[acute pain]] in adults, [[rheumatoid arthritis]], [[ankylosing spondylitis]], [[painful menstruation]], and [[juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]].<ref>{{cite web |date=11 November 2019 |title=Celecoxib Monograph for Professionals |url=https://www.drugs.com/monograph/celecoxib.html |website=Drugs.com |publisher=American Society of Health-System Pharmacists}}</ref> [[SUGEN]], a company focused on [[protein kinase]] inhibitors, had pioneered the use of ATP-mimetic small molecules to block [[signal transduction]]. The [[SUGEN]] facility was shut down in 2003 by Pfizer, with the loss of more than 300 jobs, and several programs were transferred to Pfizer. These included [[sunitinib]] (Sutent), a cancer medication which was approved for human use by the FDA in January 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2005-11-20/the-spirit-of-a-startup-lives-on |title=The Spirit Of A Startup Lives On |work=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |date=November 21, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2003/04/28/daily24.html |title=Pfizer expects to shutter South City biotech outpost |work=[[American City Business Journals]] |date=April 30, 2003}}</ref> A related compound, SU11654 ([[Toceranib]]), was also approved for [[cancer in dogs]], and the [[ALK inhibitor]] [[Crizotinib]] also grew out of a SUGEN program.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904009304576532892704206326 |title=FDA Approves Pfizer Lung-Cancer Drug |first=Jonathan D. |last=Rockoff |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 26, 2011 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-409547-2.12391-1 |chapter=Selective Kinase Inhibitors in Cancer |title=Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry III |year=2017 |last1=Mortlock |first1=A.A. |last2=Wilson |first2=D.M. |last3=Kettle |first3=J.G. |last4=Goldberg |first4=F.W. |last5=Foote |first5=K.M. |pages=39–75 |isbn=978-0-12-803201-5}}</ref>

On October 15, 2009, Pfizer acquired [[Wyeth]] for $68{{nbsp}}billion in cash and stock, including the assumption of debt, making Pfizer the largest pharmaceutical company in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sorkin |first1=Andrew Ross |last2=Wilson |first2=Duff |date=January 25, 2009 |title=Pfizer Agrees to Pay $68 Billion for Rival Drug Maker Wyeth |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/business/26drug.html |url-access=limited |issn=0362-4331 |authorlink1=Andrew Ross Sorkin |authorlink2=Duff Wilson}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 15, 2009 |title=Pfizer completes $67 billion deal for rival Wyeth |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idUSTRE59E4S320091015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Karnitschnig |first1=Matthew |last2=Rockoff |first2=Jonathan D. |date=January 23, 2009 |title=Pfizer in Talks to Buy Wyeth |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123268511212809429 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="worst">{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Jim |date=January 23, 2009 |title=The Pfizer–Wyeth Deal Worst-Case Scenario |work=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-pfizer-wyeth-deal-worst-case-scenario/}}</ref><ref name="wyethpr">{{Cite press release |title=PFIZER COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF WYETH |url=https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer_completes_acquisition_of_wyeth |publisher=Pfizer |date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> The acquisition of Wyeth provided Pfizer with a [[pneumococcal conjugate vaccine]], trademarked [[Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine#Prevnar|Prevnar 13]]; this is used for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal infections. The introduction of the original, 7-valent version of the vaccine, developed by [[Wyeth]] in February 2000, led to a 75% reduction in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal infections among children under age{{nbsp}}5 in the United States. Pfizer introduced an improved version of the vaccine in 2010, for which it was granted a patent in India in 2017. Prevnar 13 provides coverage of 13 bacterial variants, expanding beyond the original 7-valent version.<ref name="wyethpr" /> By 2012, the rate of invasive infections among children under age{{spaces}}5 had been reduced by an additional 50%.<ref name="cdc.gov">{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2019 |title=CDC – ABCs: Surveillance Reports main page – Active Bacterial Core surveillance |url=https://www.cdc.gov/abcs/reports-findings/surv-reports.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Herper |first=Matthew |date=August 24, 2020 |title=In the race for a Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer turns to a scientist with a history of defying skeptics – and getting results |url=https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/24/pfizer-edge-in-the-race-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-could-be-a-scientist-with-two-best-sellers-to-her-credit/ |website=[[Stat (website)|Stat]]}}</ref>