Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of medicines and vaccines. The company’s core activities span research and development, manufacturing, and marketing of products across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Pfizer’s portfolio addresses conditions in immunology, oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, neuroscience and infectious diseases, with a focus on delivering innovative treatments that improve patient outcomes.
Founded in 1849 by cousins Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart in Brooklyn, New York, Pfizer began as a fine-chemicals firm and soon expanded into large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing. Over its history, the company has grown through a combination of internal R&D efforts and strategic acquisitions, including the 2009 purchase of Wyeth and the 2015 acquisition of Hospira. These moves strengthened its vaccine and sterile injectable businesses and broadened its therapeutic capabilities.
Today, Pfizer is known for its leading vaccines, such as the pneumococcal Prevnar franchise, and for breakthrough therapies in oncology, including Ibrance and Xtandi (the latter developed in collaboration with Astellas). The company’s research pipeline also features antiviral therapies, immuno-oncology candidates and precision medicines for genetic disorders. Collaboration with biotech partners and academia plays a central role in Pfizer’s innovation strategy, helping to advance early-stage science toward clinical development.
With commercial operations in more than 125 countries and research centers in the United States, Europe and Asia, Pfizer maintains a broad geographic footprint. Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla, who took the helm in 2019, the company continues to prioritize investment in R&D, strategic alliances and sustainable manufacturing practices. Pfizer’s mission remains focused on leveraging scientific excellence to address global health challenges and deliver therapies that make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.
