Pfizer - A World Class innovator and exporter
Pfizer - Major Investor in the UK R&D
Pfizer - Major UK employer
Pfizer - Investment in the UK infrastructure
Pfizer - Fast Facts

Pfizer Limited is the UK subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. Following the acquisition of Pharmacia in 2003, Pfizer has become the leading supplier of medicines to the NHS. Every month, over 2 million people in the UK take a Pfizer medicine.

Pfizer in the UK is a world-class innovative company that makes a difference to individual lives and the overall economy. Pfizer’s investment in the UK is substantial, amounting to over £1bn between 1996 and 2001. For every one person who is directly employed by Pfizer, there are nearly four more jobs supported by the company’s activities in the UK. As a result, the total number of jobs supported by Pfizer, either directly or through the effects of its expenditure, is over 30,000.

Pfizer Limited directly employs over 6,985 people throughout the UK, of whom approximately 3,600 are based at Sandwich in Kent, the Pfizer European headquarters for Research and Development. A further 700 employees work in the new UK commercial headquarters at Walton Oaks, in Surrey. Since 1998, four regional commercial offices have opened in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and St Albans, supporting a large field force throughout the UK.

Pfizer - Committed to the UK

Pfizer - A world-class innovator and exporter

Innovative thinking has enabled us to provide disease management programmes that treat both illness and the patient. Four of the Company’s world-leading pharmaceuticals were discovered by scientists at the Pfizer discovery and development campus, at Sandwich in Kent.

The spirit of innovation has propelled every success. It pervades every function, from finance and manufacturing to information technology and product distribution.

In April 2003, Pfizer Limited received its seventh Queen’s Award for International Trade, reflecting the success of Pfizer’s business in the UK. This added to the Queen’s Award won in 2001 for the discovery and development of VIAGRA™ (sildenafil) used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Pfizer has also achieved Queen’s Awards in 1993, 1997 and 2000 and two additional Queen’s Awards for Technological Achievement for the discovery of new medicines, namely MANSIL™ (oxamniquine) (1979), a treatment for a parasitic disease and DIFLUCAN™ (fluconazole) (1991), a treatment for fungal infections. VIAGRA™ and VFEND™ (voricanazole), both discovered in the UK, have also received the prestigious Prix Galien award.

Pfizer is not, however, only interested in the medical treatment of patients. Throughout Pfizer’s presence in the UK we have offered our support to and worked in partnership with groups as varied as the Royal Colleges, trade bodies, NGOs, parliamentarians, patient groups, healthcare professionals and local communities. We have developed initiatives in conjunction with many different organisations to deliver health promotion, screening programmes, health information, training for health care professionals, interpretation of government legislation and advice. At all times we have endeavoured to support projects and programmes through open and equal partnerships, irrespective of the infrastructure and the resource supplied.

Pfizer - Major investor in UK R&D

Employing some 2,700 scientists, Sandwich Laboratories is the largest R&D site of any foreign-owned pharmaceutical company in the UK. Pfizer’s R&D expenditure in the UK has grown from £43 million in 1990 to over £600 million in 2003.

The Company’s main areas of research & development expertise are diseases of the central nervous system, metabolic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis and osteo-arthritis), viral diseases (HIV/AIDS), allergies and respiratory diseases, sexual health and research on animal medicines. With the acquisition of Pharmacia, Pfizer’s expertise has expanded into ophthalmology, gynaecology and oncology.

This massive investment in the UK has returned a significant dividend in terms of innovative new medicines for patients. For example the Sandwich laboratories are currently developing a potentially significant new approach to the treatment of HIV.

Pfizer - Major UK employer

Pfizer Limited has been operating in the UK since the 1950s. Currently 6,985 people are employed in the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of human and animal medicines, of whom 3,600 are based at the Sandwich site in Kent. The total number of jobs supported by Pfizer in the UK, either directly or through the effects of its expenditure, is over 30,000 people. Thus, for every one person who is directly employed by Pfizer Limited, there are nearly four more jobs supported by the company’s activities in the UK.

In January 2001, Pfizer was listed as the top healthcare company to work for in the UK in “The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work for in the UK Survey”.

Pfizer-Investment in UK infrastructure

Pfizer’s expenditure in the UK economy is substantial. Between 1996 and 2001, Pfizer Limited invested more than £1 billion in the UK.

Some £450 million has been spent on new research and development facilities at the Sandwich site. The new facilities won an ‘excellent’ rating under the BREEAM scheme (Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method). BREEAM is the world's most widely used means of reviewing and improving the environmental performance of office buildings.

Pfizer has also recently built a new UK business headquarters at Walton Oaks, near Reigate, Surrey. It was the coupling of the innovative design and construction quality of Walton Oaks that led to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) presenting their prestigious design award to Pfizer Limited in June 2002. The RIBA jury commented that;

“We felt that this was an exceptionally good piece of commercial architecture and that the conviction and commitment to quality which it demonstrates should be firmly encouraged”. (RIBA Journal, July 2002)

Pfizer – Fast Facts

• Pfizer is the leading supplier to the NHS.
  
• In 2002, 2 million people in the UK took a Pfizer medicine every month.
  
• The total number of UK jobs supported by Pfizer, either directly or through the effects of its expenditure, is over 30,000 people.
  
• For every one person who is directly employed by Pfizer Limited, there are nearly four more jobs supported by the company’s activities in the UK.
  
• Between 1996 and 2001 alone, capital investment amounted to more than £1 billion in the UK
  
• In April 2003, Pfizer Limited received its seventh Queen’s Award. The award was made for International Trade and reflects the success of Pfizer’s business in the UK.
  
• In 2002, Pfizer was named the ‘most admired’ pharmaceutical company in America by Fortune magazine, which was followed by a further announcement that Pfizer had been named as the ‘most admired’ company in the world.
  
• In 2003, Pfizer CEO Hank McKinnell was ranked 11th in Fortune Magazine's first-ever list of the 25 Most Powerful People in Business.
  
• Six of the company’s world-leading medicines were discovered by scientists based at the Sandwich site in Kent.
  
• Employing some 2,700 scientists, Sandwich Laboratories is the largest R&D site of any foreign-owned pharmaceutical company in the UK
  
• Pfizer’s R&D expenditure in the UK has grown from £43 million in 1990 to over £600 million in 2003.
  
• Pfizer has a 50-year history of working in the UK in partnership with the NHS, patient groups, health providers, and government. It has delivered and supported many innovative and beneficial health initiatives.
  
• The Sandwich site alone gave £250,000 in 2001 to local community projects and charities in the East Kent area. It also supported over 100 local schools as part of their academic liaison programme. A similar programme on a smaller scale is operated at the Surrey headquarters.
  
• Pfizer spends £10 million on R&D in the UK every week, nearly £1,000 a minute.
  
• Pfizer employs 15,000 scientists worldwide, and in 2003 Pfizer spent more than $7 billion globally on R&D, more than any other private organisation.
  
• In 2002, Pfizer became the only US pharmaceutical company to join the UN Global Compact, a worldwide network promoting good Corporate Responsibility.