Pfizer: Difference between revisions

In 1989, Pfizer scientists Peter Dunn and Albert Wood created Viagra ([[sildenafil]]) for treating [[high blood pressure]] and [[angina]], a chest pain associated with [[coronary artery disease]]. In 1991, it was patented in the United Kingdom as a heart medication. Early trials for the medication showed that it did not work for the treatment of heart disease, but volunteers in the clinical trials had increased [[erection]]s several days after taking the drug. It was patented in the United States in 1996 and received approval by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] in March 1998. In December 1998, Pfizer hired [[Bob Dole]] as a spokesperson for the drug.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/27/health/viagra-anniversary-timeline/index.html |title=Viagra: The little blue pill that could |first=Jacque |last=Wilson |work=CNN |date=March 27, 2013}}</ref> The patents for Viagra expired in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jun/09/race-to-replace-viagra-patents-erectile-dysfunction-drug-medical-research-cialis-eroxon |title=The race to replace Viagra |first=David |last=Cox |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 9, 2019}}</ref>

In 1991 Pfizer also began marketing Zoloft ([[sertraline]]), an [[antidepressant]] of the [[selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor]] (SSRI) class developed nine years earlier by Pfizer chemists [[Kenneth Koe]] and Willard Welch. Sertraline is primarily prescribed for [[major depressive disorder]] in adult [[outpatients]] as well as [[obsessive-compulsive disorder]], [[panic disorder]], and [[social anxiety disorder]] in both adults and children. In 2005, the year before it became a generic drug, sales were over $3{{nbsp}}billion and over 100{{nbsp}}million people had been treated with the drug.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2015 |title=Kenneth Koe '45 |url=https://www.reed.edu/reed-magazine/in-memoriam/obituaries/_online_only/kenneth-koe-1945.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-18 |website=Reed Magazine |publisher=[[Reed College]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414055337/https://www.reed.edu/reed-magazine/in-memoriam/obituaries/_online_only/kenneth-koe-1945.html |archive-date=2022-04-14}}</ref> The patent for Zoloft expired in the summer of 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Aaron |date=2006-04-04 |title=Who stands to gain when Zoloft goes generic? |work=[[CNN Money]] |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/04/04/news/companies/antidepressants/ |access-date=2021-05-18}}</ref>

In June 2016, the company acquired Anacor Pharmaceuticals for $5.2{{nbsp}}billion, expanding its portfolio in both inflammation and immunology drugs areas.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160624005299/en/Pfizer-Completes-Acquisition-of-Anacor |title=Pfizer Completes Acquisition of Anacor |publisher=Pfizer |via=[[Business Wire]] |date=June 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Pfizer to Acquire Anacor Pharmaceuticals for $5.2B |url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/pfizer-to-acquire-anacor-pharmaceuticals-for-5-2b/ |website=genengnews.com |date=May 16, 2016}}</ref> In August 2016, the company made a $40{{nbsp}}million bid for the assets of BIND Therapeutics, which was in [[bankruptcy]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Pfizer Places High Bid of $40M for BIND Therapeutics |url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/pfizer-places-high-bid-of-40m-for-bind-therapeutics/ |website=genengnews.com |date=July 27, 2016}}</ref> The same month, the company acquired Bamboo Therapeutics for $645{{nbsp}}million, expanding its gene therapy offerings.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Pfizer Acquires Bamboo Therapeutics in a $645M Deal |url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/pfizer-acquires-bamboo-therapeutics-in-a-645m-deal/ |website=genengnews.com |date=August 1, 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, the company acquired cancer drug-maker [[Medivation]] for $14{{nbsp}}billion.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Pfizer to Acquire Medivation for $14B |url=https://www.genengnews.com/news/pfizer-to-acquire-medivation-for-14b/ |website=genengnews.com |date=August 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Pfizer to buy cancer drug firm Medivation for $14bn |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37150531 |date=August 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160928005824/en/ |title=Pfizer Completes Acquisition of Medivation |publisher=OncoImmune |via=[[Business Wire]] |date=September 28, 2016}}</ref> In October 2016, the company licensed the anti-[[CTLA4]] monoclonal antibody, ONC-392, from OncoImmune.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/oncoimmune-licenses-onc-392-to-pfizer-for-up-to-250m/ |title=OncoImmune Licenses ONC-392 to Pfizer for Up to $250M |work=genengnews.com |date=October 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160915005151/en/OncoImmune-Announces-Option-and-License-Agreement-with-Pfizer-Inc. |title=OncoImmune Announces Option and License Agreement with Pfizer Inc. |publisher=Pfizer |via=[[Business Wire]] |date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> In November 2016, Pfizer funded a $3,435,600 study with the [[CDC Foundation]] to research "screen-and-treat" strategies for [[cryptococcal disease]] in [[Botswana]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-09 |title=CDC Foundation Active Programs October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021 |url=https://www.cdcfoundation.org/CDCF-ActivePrograms-CDC-FY21?inline |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115161004/https://www.cdcfoundation.org/CDCF-ActivePrograms-CDC-FY21?inline |archive-date=2022-01-15 |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=[[CDC Foundation]]}}</ref> In December 2016, Pfizer acquired [[AstraZeneca]]'s small-molecule antibiotics business for $1.575 billion.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161222005395/en/Pfizer-Completes-Acquisition-of-Small-Molecule-Anti-Infective-Business-From-AstraZeneca |title=Pfizer Completes Acquisition of Small Molecule Anti-Infective Business From AstraZeneca |publisher=Pfizer |via=[[Business Wire]] |date=December 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Pfizer Buys AstraZeneca Antibiotics for Up to $1.575B |url=https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/pfizer-buys-astrazeneca-antibiotics-for-up-to-1-575b/ |website=genengnews.com |date=August 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Pfizer grabs AZ antibiotics in $1.5B deal. Pre-split prep or just another sales-boosting buy? |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/pfizer-grabs-az-antibiotics-1-5b-deal-pre-split-prep-or-just-another-sales-boosting-buy |first=Tracy |last=Staton |magazine=Fierce Pharma |date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>

In July 2019, the company acquired Therachon for up to $810{{nbsp}}million, expanding its rare disease portfolio through Therachon's recombinant human fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 compound, aimed at treating conditions such as [[achondroplasia]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/sWCcSrMgL8UmeCJXuuGp-w2 |title=Pfizer completes acquisition of Therachon to bolster rare disease drug portfolio |first=Ravikash |last=Bakolia |work=[[S&P Global]] |date=July 1, 2019}}</ref> Also in July, Pfizer acquired [[Array Biopharma]] for $10.6{{nbsp}}billion, boosting its oncology pipeline.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190730005590/en/Pfizer-Completes-Acquisition-of-Array-Biopharma |title=Pfizer Completes Acquisition of Array Biopharma |publisher=Pfizer |via=[[Business Wire]] |date=July 30, 2019}}</ref> In August 2019, Pfizer merged its consumer health business with that of GlaxoSmithKline, into a [[joint venture]] owned 68% by GlaxoSmithKline and 32% by Pfizer, with plans to make it a [[public company]]. The transaction built on a 2018 transaction where GlaxoSmithKline acquired [[Novartis]]' stake in the GSK-Novartis consumer healthcare joint business.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46616713 |title=GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer merge healthcare arms |work=[[BBC News]] |date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> The transaction followed negotiations with other companies including [[Reckitt Benckiser]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Reckitt Benckiser's still keen on a Pfizer OTC buy. But can it afford one? |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/reckitt-benckiser-s-still-keen-a-pfizer-otc-buy-but-can-it-afford-one |magazine=Fierce Pharma |first=Carly |last=Helfand |date=October 16, 2017}}</ref> [[Sanofi]], [[Johnson & Johnson]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Sanofi, J&J could join GlaxoSmithKline, Reckitt in $20B bidding war for Pfizer OTC: report |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/sanofi-j-j-could-join-gsk-reckitt-20b-bidding-war-for-pfizer-otc-report |magazine=Fierce Pharma |first=Carly |last=Helfand |date=October 26, 2017}}</ref> and [[Procter & Gamble]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=GlaxoSmithKline eyes Pfizer's OTC unit. But will a buy imperil its dividend? |url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/glaxosmithkline-s-eyeing-pfizer-s-otc-unit-but-will-a-buy-imperil-its-dividend |magazine=Fierce Pharma |first=Carly |last=Helfand |date=October 25, 2017}}</ref> In September 2019, Pfizer initiated a study with the [[CDC Foundation]] to investigate the tracking of [[healthcare-associated infection]]s, scheduled to run through to June 2023.<ref name=":4" /> In December 2019, Pfizer awarded the CDC Foundation a further $1,948,482 to continue its [[cryptococcal disease]] screening and treatment research in nine African countries.<ref name=":4" />