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Wyeth

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticisms

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.

Company Ownership

Wyeth Corporation   USA     website         
  Pfizer Inc   
   owns 100% of Wyeth Corporation  
USA     website   email   facebook   twitter

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.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Wyeth Corporation
Social Irresponsible marketing
Wyeth has been criticised for marketing breastmilk substitute to women in third world countries despite being banned from this by the World Health Organisation.
Source: Babymilk Action (2012)
Social Most controversial companies of 2012
This company appeared ninth on RepRisk's top ten "most environmentally and socially controversial companies of 2012". Companies on the list were severely criticised during 2012 by the world's media, governments and NGOs. Criticisms of Wyeth include multiple lawsuits over its pharmaceutical products, illicit payments to medical practitioners, bribery and anti-competitive practices. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: RepRisk (2013)
Social Irresponsible marketing
As well as their irresponsible marketing and selling of baby milk formula, Wyeth also manufactures the benzodiazepine tranquilliser, Ativan and is one of the companies which has been criticised for not warning doctors of it's possible addictiveness, and therefore of the need to prescribe it for short periods only. (Noted here as 'additional information only' due to age of report).
Source: McSpotlight (1992)
Pfizer Inc
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of A-
In 2022, 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 A-.
Source: CDP (2022)
Business Ethics 85.3/100 in Newsweek rankings
America's Most Responsible Companies 2022 by Newsweek and Statista recognises the Top 500 most responsible companies in the United States. Companies were evaluated in three areas: environmental (waste, energy use, etc.), social (leadership diversity, employees and philanthropy) and governance (transparency and economic performance). This company received a total score of 85.3/100, ranking 7th in the Health Care & Life Sciences sector, and 47th overall.
Source: Newsweek (2021)
Social CDP Water Security Score of B
In 2022, 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: CDP (2022)
Social Access to Medicine ranking
This company received the sixth highest score in the Access to Medicine Index 2022, a ranking of the world's 20 largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to increase access to medicine in developing countries. The ranking is based on their scores in each Technical Area, with Product Delivery weighted most highly, followed by R&D and Governance of Access.
Source: Access to Medicine Foundation (2022)
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 (2021)
Social 81% in AMR Benchmark
The 2021 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark ranks 17 large pharmaceutical companies on their efforts keep medicines and vaccines available, despite the rise of drug resistance. This company was identified as a leader amongst large research-based companies, receiving a score of 81%.
Source: Access to Medicine Foundation (2021)
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)
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)
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 (2022)
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)
Environment 5/18 in Net Zero scorecard
As You Sow's 2022 report, 'Road to Zero Emissions', assessed the progress of 55 of the largest U.S. corporations in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's objective of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which requires achieving "net zero" emissions by 2050. Companies are graded on: climate related disclosures; GHG reduction targets, and GHG reductions. This company received an Overall Net Zero grade of D.
Source: As You Sow (2022)
Business Ethics $60m fraud settlement 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 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 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 Political donations
This company is on OpenSecrets.org's list of "Top Donors", a list of the 100 biggest givers in US federal-level politics since 1990. Companies on this list lobby and spend big, with large sums sent to candidates, parties and leadership PACs. This company comes in at number 93 on the list, with contributions totalling $30,954,692 between 1990 and 2020.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)
Business Ethics 35/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 35/100 in the Pharmaceuticals category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). 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 (2022)
Business Ethics Top spender on lobbying in USA
This company is on OpenSecrets.org's list of "Top Spenders on Lobbying", a list of the 20 organizations that have spent the most trying to influence US government policy. This company comes in at number 15 on the list, having spent $12,630,000 on lobbying in 2020.
Source: Open Secrets (2021)
Business Ethics $345m EpiPen settlement
In 2021 this company agreed to pay US$345 million to settle a class action lawsuit that claiming Pfizer and Mylan plotted to maintain EpiPen's monopoly by issuing large rebates to insurers and Medicaid plans that refused to cover competing medications. The class action was filed after the price of EpiPens rose from $100 to $600 in under 10 years.
Source: Top Class Actions (2021)
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 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)
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 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 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. [Listed under Information due to age of court finding]
Source: news article (2012)
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)
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 (2021)
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)
Business Ethics AMR Industry Alliance member
This company is a member of the AMR Industry Alliance, a coalition of biotech, diagnostics, generics and research-based pharmaceutical companies set up to provide sustainable solutions to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is an increasingly significant threat to global public health which puts at risk the effective prevention and treatment of a wide range of infections.
Source: AMR Industry Alliance (2021)
Environment CDP Forests Score of C-
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of C-.
Source: CDP (2022)
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: company website (2017)
Business Ethics 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 (2020)
Business Ethics 55.8/125 at JUST Capital
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2023 rankings JUST Capital asked a representative sample of 3,002 Americans to compare 20 different business Issues on a head-to-head basis, producing a reliable hierarchy of Issues ranked in order of priority. Issues are organised under the headings Workers, Customers, Communities, the Environment, or Shareholders & Governance. 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 263rd of 951 companies, and 20th of 41 Pharmaceuticals & Biotech companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2023)
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)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary
Revenue 17.4 billion USD (2004)
Employees 51,401 (2004)

Contact Details

Address Five Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ, 7940, USA
Phone xxxx-973 660 5000
Website www.wyeth.com

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