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Pfizer

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticisms

Pharmaceuticals

World's largest research-based pharmaceuticals firm. Its products include Viagra, Benadryl and Sudafed. Bought Wyeth in 2009 for US$68 billion. In 2019 Pfizer and GSK merged their consumer healthcare divisions.

Pfizer Inc   USA     website   email   facebook   twitter

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Pfizer Inc
Social CDP Water Security Score of A-
In 2020, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of A-.
Source: CDP (2020)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of B
In 2020, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of B.
Source: CDP (2020)
Social 100% on Corporate Equality Index
This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
Source: Human Rights Campaign (2020)
Social Human rights violations
This company appears on Global Exchange's list of "Most Wanted" Corporate Human Rights Violators (Alums) for killer price-gouging.
Source: Global Exchange (2017)
Social 1.7% in conflict minerals rankings
As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 1.7% (Weak).
Source: As You Sow (2019)
Animals Cruelty to animals
In 2015 Pfizer experimented on thousands of animals in its own laboratories and many more in experiments in contract testing laboratories.
Source: PETA (2015)
Animals Animal Testing
This company appears on PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, USA) 'Companies That Do Test On Animals' list, signifying that they manufacture products that are tested on animals at some stage of development.
Source: PETA (2020)
Business Ethics 38.3% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 38.3/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)
Environment Supply chain practices in China
This company received a score of 11.2/100 (retrieved 10-Oct-2020) in the Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI), a system for evaluating supply chain practices in China, particularly in regards to environmental management and water pollution. Scores are calculated using government compliance data, online monitoring data, and third-party environmental audits, as well as trends in the environmental performance of factories in the company's supply chains.
Source: IPE (2020)
Business Ethics Fined US$486m for illegal marketing
In 2016 this company agreed to pay US$486 million to settle litigation accusing it of causing big losses for shareholders by concealing safety risks associated with its Celebrex and Bextra pain-relieving drugs. The settlement ended more than 11 years of litigation.
Source: New article (2016)
Business Ethics Fined for illegal bribery
In August 2012 Pfizer agreed to pay a US$60 million court settlement after allegedly bribing foreign officials in Europe and Asia to speed up drug approvals, and give preference to Pfizer drugs in their countries' public health programs, which in turn generated billions of dollars for the world's largest drug company.
Source: news article (2012)
Business Ethics Fined US$60m for fraud in USA
In 2019 several pharmaceutical companies finally settled a 2005 lawsuit which claimed the companies fudged wholesale drug prices to increase Medicaid reimbursements. In all, the state of Illinois received a combined $648 million over the course of that litigation. This company paid US$60 million in the 2019 settlement.
Source: news article (2019)
Business Ethics Political donations
This company is on OpenSecrets.org's list of the 100 top donor organisations in US federal-level politics since 1989. Companies on this list lobby and spend big, with large sums sent to candidates, parties and leadership PACs. This company comes in at number 81 on the list, with donations totalling US$25,518,846 between 1989 and 2018.
Source: Open Secrets (2018)
Business Ethics Tax dodging
A 2018 report by Oxfam shows that four pharmaceutical corporations, including this one, systematically hide their profits in overseas tax havens. This activity could deprive developing countries of more than $100 million every year. These corporations deploy massive influencing operations to rig the rules in their favor and give their damaging behavior a veneer of legitimacy. Tax dodging, high prices, and influence peddling by drug companies exacerbate the yawning gap between rich and poor, between men and women, and between advanced economies and developing ones.
Source: Oxfam (2018)
Business Ethics 29/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 29/100 in the Pharmaceuticals category of the 2019 SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2019)
Environment Pollution in China
A 2015 report by Sum Of Us reveals that the largest pharmaceutical corporations are complicit in fuelling one of the most serious public health crises facing society today. Pharmaceutical companies, including this one, are sourcing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from companies in China which are responsible for massive environmental pollution from its antibiotic factories. Pfizer is among the well-known brand names which has sourced antibiotics for human and animal use from NCPC, a company that stands accused of discharging pharmaceutical effluent into the environment and numerous other serious manufacturing deficiencies.
Source: Changing Markets (2015)
Environment Global Pollution & Chemical discharge
In 1992, Greenpeace listed a Pfizer plant as one of the ten worst polluters in the South East of England. The plant had breached its discharge consent four times since the beginning of 1991 and also discharged ten chemicals for which it did not have a permit, including organochlorines. Pfizer was the target of a Greenpeace campaign in 1988 for dumping industrial waste in Eire, and a US group listed Pfizer as one of the top fifteen corporate contributors to global pollution, based on 1987 figures. (Noted here as 'additional information only' due to age of report).'
Source: McSpotlight (1992)
Social Fined US$2.3b for illegal marketing
In 2009 Pfizer copped the largest US criminal fine ever (US$2.3 billion), in the settlement of allegations that it had illegally marketed its painkiller Bextra and other drugs. Pfizer also faces lawsuits over other drugs, namely Reglan, Zoloft and Effexor. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]
Source: New article (2009)
Business Ethics Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations'
Named one of Multinational Monitor's '10 Worst Corporations' in 2006. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: Multinational Monitor (2006)
Business Ethics Excessive CEO pay
As You Sow's 2019 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Ian Read came in at number 44 on the list, having been paid US$27,913,775 in 2018. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."
Source: As You Sow (2019)
Business Ethics Fines for misconduct
This company is listed on the Federal Contractor Misconduct Database as having 11 instances of misconduct since 1995 amounting to US$3.4 billion in penalties. Instances include illegal marketing, false claims, and whistleblower retaliation.
Source: Project on Government Oversight (POGO) (2014)
Business Ethics CEO Pay Ratio of 181:1
In 2019 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$98,972. The CEO was paid 181 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
Source: AFL-CIO (2020)
Environment Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business (2017)
Animals Good Egg Award 2012 (UK)
Compassion in World Farming is a UK-based organisation which works with the European food industry to encourage and reward commitment, transparency, performance and innovation in the field of animal welfare. This company's UK subsidiary won their Good Egg Award in 2012.
Source: Compassion in World Farming (2012)
Business Ethics UN Global Compact participant
The United Nations Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of 10 values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment, and anti-corruption. However it's non-binding nature has been widely criticised, and many signatory corporations continue to violate the Compact's values.
Source: UN Global Compact (2020)
Social Access to Medicine ranking
This company received the eleventh highest score in the Access to Medicine Index 2018, a ranking of the world's 20 largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to increase access to medicine in developing countries.
Source: Access to Medicine Index (2018)
Social Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: Modern Slavery Registry (2017)
Business Ethics 54.6% at JUST Capital
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2021 rankings the public identified 19 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 281th of 928 companies, and 13th of 51 Pharmaceuticals & Biotech companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2020)
Information Corporate Rap Sheet
The Corporate Research Project's Corporate Rap Sheets are dossiers summarising the most significant crimes, violations and other questionable activities of the world's largest and most controversial companies. Follow link to see this company's Corporate Rap Sheet.
Source: Corporate Research Project (2018)
Information OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2014)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Revenue US$53.6 billion in 2018
Employees 92,400 in 2018
Subsidiaries Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd 

Pharmaceuticals manufacturer and distributor

Pfizer have been operating in Australia since 1956. They operate three manufacturing plants in Australia.


Wyeth Corporation 

Pharmaceuticals, health care and animal health care products manufacturer

The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health. Bought by Pfizer in 2009 for US$68 billion.


GSK Consumer Healthcare (32% owned) 

Pharmaceuticals

This huge consumer healthcare joint venture between GSK and Pfizer kicked off in August 2019. GSK intends to demerge the joint venture in 2022, creating two new UK-based global companies focused on pharmaceuticals/vaccines and consumer healthcare.


  - GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd 

Pharmaceuticals manufacturer

In 2019 GSK and Pfizer merged their consumer health businesses, creating a joint venture called GSK Consumer Healthcare.


  - Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Pty Ltd 

Pharmaceuticals manufacturer and distributor


Viatris (57% owned) 

Pharmaceuticals

Created in 2020 when Mylan merged with Pfizer's off-patent drug business, Upjohn.

Contact Details

Address New York, New York, USA
Website www.pfizer.com

Products / Brands

GSK Consumer Healthcare Australia
Benefiber Laxatives
Biotene Mouthwash
Biotene Toothpaste
Eno Digestive Care
Lamisil Foot Care
Macleans Toothbrush
Macleans Toothpaste
Macleans Mouthwash
Nicabate Quit Smoking
Otrivin Cold & Flu
Panadol Pain Relief Tablets
Panadol Cold & Flu
Panafen Pain Relief Tablets
Polident Toothpaste
Pronamel Toothpaste
Sensodyne Dental Floss
Sensodyne Toothpaste
Sensodyne Mouthwash
Voltaren Topical Pain Relief
Zovirax Lip Care

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Australia
Advil Pain Relief Tablets
Caltrate Vitamins
Centrum Vitamins
Chap Stick Lip Care
De-Gas Digestive Care
Dimetapp Cold & Flu
Robitussin Cold & Flu


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