Pfizer

“We chose Cork for this investment because of our very positive experiences in the region over many years and we are confident that its implementation will be seamless and that the innovative and highly skilled people we need will be there for us”. Nat Ricciardi, Pfizer Global Manufacturing commenting on the decision to locate a Pfizer Biologics Facility in Co. Cork

Pfizer is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world. It produces human and animal medicines and consumer healthcare products. Pharmaceutical sales represent 93% of total sales. Pfizer Inc had sales of $48.3 billion (2008) with R&D expenditure of $7.95 billion.

Pfizer has an excellent product portfolio, including 10 blockbuster drugs (sales over $1bn).

Pfizer has 7 operations in Ireland employing over 1,650 people.

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals Ringaskiddy was established as a citric acid plant in 1969. This business was sold to Archer Daniels Midland in 1990. Pfizer’s pharmaceutical operations on the Ringaskiddy site now consist of three active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) plants producing a range of material for most of Pfizer’s major products excluding Lipitor. The site employs 560.

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals Loughbeg (Tablets) is a dedicated Lipitor tableting operation. The tablets are shipped in bulk for packaging elsewhere .The site employs 244.

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals (Little Island) is the sole production site worldwide for Lipitor API. The site employs 230.

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals (Dun Laoghaire) is a former Warner Lambert site with a sterile fill/finish pharmaceutical operation. The site employs 260. A major expansion of the Dun Laoghaire facility was recently completed. The operation is viewed in Pfizer as a “Centre of Excellence” for lyophilisation (freeze dried sterile products).

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals (Services Ringaskiddy) provides an overall service for all of the Pfizer plants in Ireland in the areas of finance, administration and human resources. The site employs 87 people.

Pfizer European Financial Services Centre has responsibility for 19 European countries in the areas of tax, treasury, inventory accounting and general ledger. Current employment is 250.

Pfizer International Bank Europe, was incorporated in 1991, employing 20 people. The bank includes a Treasury Centre, which provides treasury and banking services to Pfizer affiliates around the world.
 

On January 26th 2009 Pfizer and Wyeth announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. The total transaction is valued at approximately $68 billion.

Pfizer said it expects the deal to result in $4 billion in savings by the third year after closing. Pfizer also said it plans to reduce the combined company's global workforce by 15%.