Pfizer

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Owned	USA
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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.

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Company Assessment

PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Pfizer Inc
CDP Climate Change Score of B In 2019, 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 2019][More on Climate Change] CDP Water Security Score of B In 2019, 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 B. [Source 2019][More on Human Rights] 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 2019][More on Workers Rights]	Human rights violations This company appears on Global Exchange's list of "Most Wanted" Corporate Human Rights Violators (Alums) for killer price-gouging. [Source 2017][More on Human Rights] 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 2019][More on Human Rights] Cruelty to animals In 2011 Pfizer experimented on nearly 50,000 animals in its own laboratories and many more in experiments in contract testing laboratories. [Source 2012][More on Animal Rights] 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 2020][More on Animal Testing] 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 2017][More on Sustainability Reporting] 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. [Source 2009][More on Governance] Supply chain practices in China This company received a score of 12.4/100 (retrieved 25-Feb-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 2020][More on Habitats] 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 2012][More on Governance] 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 2018][More on Politics] 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 2018][More on Finance] 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 2019][More on Sustainability Reporting]	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 2015][More on Habitats] 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 x][More on Habitats] 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 2006][More on Governance] 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 2019][More on Finance] 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 2014][More on Governance] 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 2017][More on Climate Change] 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 2012][More on Animal Rights] 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 x][More on Sustainability Reporting] Access to Medicine ranking This company received the eleventh highest score in the Access to Medicine Index 2018, a ranking of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to increase access to medicine in developing countries. [Source 2018][More on Human Rights] 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 2017][More on Human Rights] 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 2018] 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 2014]

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Pfizer buys Wyeth
15th Oct 2009 — Pfizer Inc. acquired Wyeth in a US$68 billion deal. Wyeth is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company. Both companies are based in USA.   [source]

Johnson & Johnson buys Pfizer healthcare division
26th Jun 2006 — Pfizer divested its Consumer Health Division to Johnson & Johnson for $22 billion in late 2006. Brands include Listerine, Sudafed, and Benadryl.