Pfizer is one of the world's largest research-based biopharmaceutical companies, with a history stretching back to 1849 and a presence in more than 125 countries. Headquartered in New York City, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker PFE and is a constituent of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, reflecting its standing as a cornerstone of global healthcare.
Pfizer's portfolio spans oncology, internal medicine, vaccines, rare diseases, and hospital-acquired infections. The company's oncology business, built in part through the acquisition of Wyeth and later Medivation, includes targeted therapies that have become widely prescribed across breast, kidney, and lung cancers. Its vaccines division is among the largest globally, and the company's partnership with BioNTech to develop an mRNA-based vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic brought its manufacturing and distribution capabilities to worldwide attention. The rare disease unit, operating under the Pfizer Rare Disease brand, addresses conditions with limited treatment options across haematology, neurology, and metabolic disorders.
Pfizer operates one of the most extensive pharmaceutical manufacturing networks in the world, with dozens of production sites across North America, Europe, and Asia. Research and development investment consistently ranks among the highest in the industry, supporting a pipeline that at any given time includes hundreds of programmes at varying stages. The company's internal medicine portfolio includes long-established brands in cardiovascular disease, pain, and infectious disease alongside newer treatments for conditions such as atopic dermatitis.
Pfizer has pursued a sustained acquisition strategy over decades, with landmark transactions including Warner-Lambert, Pharmacia, Wyeth, Hospira, and Array BioPharma, each expanding its therapeutic reach or manufacturing capacity. In 2022 the company acquired Global Blood Therapeutics and Arena Pharmaceuticals, and in 2023 completed the acquisition of Seagen, significantly strengthening its oncology pipeline with antibody-drug conjugate technologies.
Further information is available at pfizer.com.