NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported financial results for the third quarter of 2025 and reaffirmed its 2025 Revenue guidance(1) while raising and narrowing guidance for Adjusted(2) diluted EPS.
EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY
Dr. Albert Bourla, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer:
“I am proud of Pfizer’s leadership as the first in our industry to reach an agreement with the U.S. Government, which we believe provides greater clarity for our business. Additionally, our recent strategic actions have strengthened opportunities to advance innovation that could address significant medical needs in high growth markets, helping us deliver value for patients and shareholders.”
David Denton, CFO and EVP of Pfizer:
“Our third-quarter performance demonstrates our continued focus on execution and financial discipline. We raised and narrowed our full-year 2025 Adjusted diluted EPS guidance, underscoring confidence in our ability to deliver strong results for our shareholders.”
OVERALL RESULTS
Strengthened Commercial Execution Drives 4% Operational Revenue Growth of Non-COVID Portfolio
Some amounts in this press release may not add due to rounding. All percentages have been calculated using unrounded amounts. References to operational variances pertain to period-over-period changes that exclude the impact of foreign exchange rates(5).
Results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2025 and 2024(6) are summarized below.
($ in millions, except per share amounts)
Third-Quarter
Nine Months
2025
2024
% Change
2025
2024
% Change
Revenues
$
16,654
$
17,702
(6%)
$
45,022
$
45,864
(2%)
Reported(3) Net Income
3,541
4,465
(21%)
9,419
7,621
24%
Reported(3) Diluted EPS
0.62
0.78
(21%)
1.65
1.34
23%
Adjusted(2) Income
4,949
6,050
(18%)
14,620
14,124
4%
Adjusted(2) Diluted EPS
0.87
1.06
(18%)
2.56
2.48
3%
REVENUES
($ in millions)
Third-Quarter
Nine Months
2025
2024
% Change
2025
2024
% Change
Total
Oper.
Total
Oper.
Global Biopharmaceuticals Business (Biopharma)
$
16,310
$
17,392
(6%)
(7%)
$
44,056
$
44,987
(2%)
(2%)
Pfizer CentreOne (PC1)
344
285
21%
18%
929
820
13%
13%
Pfizer Ignite
—
25
(99%)
(99%)
37
56
(34%)
(34%)
TOTAL REVENUES
$
16,654
$
17,702
(6%)
(7%)
$
45,022
$
45,864
(2%)
(2%)
2025 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE(1)
Includes a one-time $1.35 billion Acquired In-Process R&D charge related to the in-licensing agreement with 3SBio, Inc. recorded in the third quarter of 2025 with an unfavorable impact of approximately $0.20.
Revenues
$61.0 to $64.0 billion
Adjusted(2) SI&A Expenses
$13.1 to $14.1 billion
Adjusted(2) R&D Expenses
$10.0 to $11.0 billion
(previously $10.4 to $11.4 billion)
Effective Tax Rate on Adjusted(2) Income
Approximately 11.0%
(previously approximately 13.0%)
Adjusted(2) Diluted EPS
$3.00 to $3.15
(previously $2.90 to $3.10)
CAPITAL ALLOCATION
During the first nine months of 2025, Pfizer deployed its capital in a variety of ways, which primarily included:
$7.2 billion invested in internal research and development projects, and
Approximately $1.6 billion invested in business development transactions, primarily reflecting the 3SBio in-licensing deal.
No share repurchases have been completed to date in 2025. As of November 4, 2025, Pfizer’s remaining share repurchase authorization is $3.3 billion. Current financial guidance does not anticipate any share repurchases in 2025. The company expects to continue to de-lever in a prudent manner in order to maintain a balanced capital allocation strategy. This includes maintaining the flexibility to deploy capital towards potential value-creating business development transactions and the potential to return capital to shareholders through share repurchases. Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding of 5,714 million and 5,705 million were used to calculate Reported(3) and Adjusted(2) diluted EPS for third-quarter 2025 and 2024, respectively.
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Third-Quarter 2025 vs. Third-Quarter 2024)
Third-quarter 2025 revenues totaled $16.7 billion, a decrease of $1.0 billion, or 6%, compared to the prior-year quarter, reflecting an operational decrease of $1.3 billion, or 7%, and a favorable impact of foreign exchange of $203 million. The operational decrease was primarily driven by a year-over-year decline in COVID-19 product revenues largely due to lower infection rates impacting Paxlovid demand as well as a narrower vaccine recommendation for COVID-19 in the U.S. that reduced the eligible population for Comirnaty.
Third-quarter 2025 operational revenue reflected higher revenues primarily for:
more than offset primarily by lower revenues for:
GAAP Reported(3) Statement of Operations Highlights
SELECTED REPORTED(3) COSTS AND EXPENSES
($ in millions)
Third-Quarter
Nine Months
2025
2024
% Change
2025
2024
% Change
Total
Oper.
Total
Oper.
Cost of Sales(3)
$
4,172
$
5,263
(21%)
(26%)
$
10,795
$
11,942
(10%)
(11%)
Percent of Revenues
25.0
%
29.7
%
N/A
N/A
24.0
%
26.0
%
N/A
N/A
SI&A Expenses(3)
3,186
3,244
(2%)
(3%)
9,632
10,456
(8%)
(8%)
R&D Expenses(3)
2,546
2,598
(2%)
(2%)
7,231
7,787
(7%)
(7%)
Acquired IPR&D Expenses(3)
1,390
13
*
*
1,401
20
*
*
Other (Income)/Deductions—net(3)
517
243
*
86%
2,210
2,030
9%
10%
Effective Tax Rate on Reported(3) Income
(6.5
%)
5.0
%
(2.9
%)
4.9
%
* Indicates calculation not meaningful or results are greater than 100%.
Third-quarter 2025 Cost of Sales(3) as a percentage of revenues decreased by 4.7 percentage points compared to the prior-year quarter, primarily driven by (i) a favorable revision of our estimate of accrued royalties, (ii) a favorable change in sales mix driven by lower sales of Comirnaty and Paxlovid, including the non-recurrence of a charge recorded in the third quarter of 2024 that was included in the 50% gross profit split with BioNTech and applicable royalty expenses, and (iii) lower amortization from the step-up of acquired inventory; partially offset by (iv) an unfavorable impact of foreign exchange.
Third-quarter 2025 SI&A Expenses(3) decreased 3% operationally compared with the prior-year quarter, primarily reflecting focused investments and ongoing productivity improvements that drove a decrease in marketing and promotional spend for various products and lower spending in corporate enabling functions, partially offset by higher healthcare reform fees in the current period primarily due to a favorable adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2024.
Third-quarter 2025 R&D Expenses(3) decreased 2% operationally compared with the prior-year quarter, driven primarily by a net decrease in spending due to pipeline focus and optimization including the expansion of our digital capabilities, as well as lower compensation-related expenses.
Third-quarter 2025 Acquired In-Process R&D Expenses(3) increased $1.4 billion compared to the prior-year quarter, driven primarily by a $1.35 billion charge related to an in-licensing agreement with 3SBio, Inc.
The unfavorable period-over-period change in Other (income)/deductions—net(3) of $275 million for the third quarter of 2025, compared with the prior-year quarter, was driven primarily by (i) an intangible asset impairment charge in the third quarter of 2025, (ii) lower net gains on equity securities, (iii) the non-recurrence of equity method income in the third quarter of 2024 from our previous investment in Haleon plc and (iv) higher charges for certain legal matters; partially offset by (v) a non-recurrence of a charge in the third quarter of 2024 related to the expected sale of one of our facilities resulting from the discontinuation of our Duchenne muscular dystrophy program and (vi) lower net interest expense.
Pfizer’s effective tax rate on Reported(3) income for the third quarter of 2025 decreased compared to the prior-year quarter primarily due to a favorable change in the jurisdictional mix of earnings, the remeasurement of deferred tax liabilities due to the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4, 2025, and tax benefits related to global income tax resolutions in multiple tax jurisdictions spanning multiple tax years.
Adjusted(2) Statement of Operations Highlights
SELECTED ADJUSTED(2) COSTS AND EXPENSES
($ in millions)
Third-Quarter
Nine Months
2025
2024
% Change
2025
2024
% Change
Total
Oper.
Total
Oper.
Adjusted(2) Cost of Sales
$
3,979
$
4,874
(18%)
(23%)
$
10,075
$
10,678
(6%)
(6%)
Percent of Revenues
23.9
%
27.5
%
N/A
N/A
22.4
%
23.3
%
N/A
N/A
Adjusted(2) SI&A Expenses
3,158
3,219
(2%)
(3%)
9,562
10,342
(8%)
(8%)
Adjusted(2) R&D Expenses
2,486
2,561
(3%)
(3%)
7,096
7,708
(8%)
(8%)
Acquired IPR&D Expenses(2)
1,390
13
*
*
1,401
20
*
*
Adjusted(2) Other (Income)/Deductions—net
257
243
6%
(21%)
688
797
(14%)
(10%)
Effective Tax Rate on Adjusted(2) Income
7.9
%
10.8
%
9.5
%
13.3
%
See the reconciliations of certain Reported(3) to non-GAAP Adjusted(2) financial measures and associated footnotes in the financial tables section of this press release located at the hyperlink below.
RECENT NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS (Since August 5, 2025)
Product Developments
Product/Project
Milestone
Recent Development
Link
Braftovi
(encorafenib) +
Mektovi
(binimetinib)
Phase 2
Four-Year Data
October 2025. Announced updated follow-up results from the single-arm Phase 2 PHAROS trial evaluating Braftovi + Mektovi for the treatment of adults with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation. In treatment-naïve patients, the median overall survival (OS) was 47.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.3, not estimable) after a median follow-up of 52.3 months. In previously treated patients, the median OS was 22.7 months (95% CI, 14.1, 32.6), after a median follow-up of 48.2 months. The four-year OS rates were 49% (95% CI, 35, 62) and 31% (95% CI, 16, 47) for treatment-naïve and previously treated patients, respectively. At the time of this analysis, the safety profile of Braftovi + Mektovi was consistent with previous findings.
Full Release
Comirnaty (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA)
Phase 3 Results
September 2025. Pfizer and BioNTech announced positive topline results from an ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial cohort evaluating the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a 30-µg dose of the LP.8.1-adapted monovalent Comirnaty 2025-2026 Formula in adults aged 65 and older and in adults aged 18 through 64 with at least one underlying risk condition for severe COVID-19. The preliminary data show a robust increase in neutralizing antibodies targeting the LP.8.1 sublineage of SARS-CoV-2 following vaccination. These clinical findings reinforce pre-clinical data that supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the LP.8.1-adapted COVID-19 vaccine, which demonstrated improved immune responses against multiple circulating SARS-CoV-2 sublineages.
Full Release
ACIP Vote
September 2025. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously recommended COVID-19 vaccination for individuals six months and older based on shared clinical decision-making. This recommendation was subsequently adopted by the Director of the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Full Release
Regulatory
August 2025. Pfizer and BioNTech announced the FDA approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the companies’ LP.8.1-adapted monovalent COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults ages 65 years and older, as well as in individuals ages 5 through 64 years with at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.
Full Release
Padcev (enfortumab vedotin)
Phase 3 Results
October 2025. Pfizer and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced positive results from the Phase 3 EV-303 clinical trial (also known as KEYNOTE-905) evaluating Padcev in combination with pembrolizumab as neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment (before and after surgery) versus surgery alone, the current standard of care, in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who are not eligible for or declined cisplatin-based chemotherapy. At the first interim efficacy analysis, results from the primary endpoint of event-free survival (EFS) showed a 60% reduction in the risk of tumor recurrence, progression or death for patients treated with neoadjuvant and adjuvant Padcev plus pembrolizumab as compared to surgery alone (Hazard Ratio (HR) of 0.40; 95% CI, 0.28-0.57; p<0.0001). The estimated median EFS has not yet been reached for the combination arm versus 15.7 months for the surgery alone arm. An estimated 74.7% of patients treated with the combination were event free at two years, relative to 39.4% of patients who received surgery only. Results from the key secondary endpoint of OS showed a 50% reduction in the risk of death for neoadjuvant and adjuvant Padcev plus pembrolizumab as compared to surgery alone (HR of 0.50; 95% CI, 0.33-0.74; p<0.0002). The estimated median OS has not yet been reached for the combination arm versus 41.7 months for the surgery arm. An estimated 79.7% of patients were alive at two years relative to 63.1% of patients who received surgery only. The safety results in EV-303 were consistent with those previously reported for this combination.
Full Release
Tukysa (tucatinib)
Phase 3 Results
October 2025. Announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 HER2CLIMB-05 trial of first-line combination therapy with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Tukysa in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). HER2CLIMB-05 is evaluating Tukysa versus placebo, both in combination with first-line standard-of-care maintenance therapy (trastuzumab plus pertuzumab) following chemotherapy-based induction. The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) by investigator assessment in the Tukysa arm versus the placebo arm. Treatment with Tukysa in combination with trastuzumab and pertuzumab was tolerable, with a safety profile generally consistent with the established safety profiles of each individual therapy.
Full Release
Xtandi (enzalutamide)
Phase 3 Results
October 2025. Pfizer and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced final OS results from the Phase 3 EMBARK study evaluating Xtandi, in combination with leuprolide and as monotherapy, in men with non-metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (nmHSPC; also known as nonmetastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer or nmCSPC) with biochemical recurrence (BCR) at high risk for metastasis. For the key secondary endpoint of OS, Xtandi plus leuprolide reduced the risk of death by 40.3% compared to leuprolide alone (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.597; 95% CI, 0.444-0.804; p=0.0006), making this the first and only androgen receptor inhibitor-based regimen to demonstrate an OS benefit in nmHSPC with high-risk BCR. The 8-year overall survival was 78.9% (95% CI, 73.9% to 83.1%) among patients receiving Xtandi plus leuprolide and 69.5% (95% CI, 64.0% to 74.3%) among patients taking leuprolide alone. A numerical improvement in OS with Xtandi as monotherapy compared to leuprolide alone (HR: 0.83 [95% CI, 0.63-1.095]; p=0.1867) did not reach statistical significance. The safety profile of Xtandi was consistent with that observed at the primary EMBARK analysis, and no new safety signals were identified.
Full Release
Pipeline Developments
A comprehensive update of Pfizer’s development pipeline was published today and is now available at www.pfizer.com/science/drug-product-pipeline. It includes an overview of Pfizer’s research and a list of compounds in development with targeted indication and phase of development, as well as mechanism of action for some candidates in Phase 1 and all candidates from Phase 2 through registration.
Product/Project
Milestone
Recent Development
Link
inclacumab
Phase 3 Results
August 2025. Announced results from the Phase 3 THRIVE-131 study evaluating inclacumab, an investigational P-selectin inhibitor, in patients 16 years of age and older with sickle cell disease (SCD). The study did not meet its primary endpoint of significant reduction in the rate of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in participants receiving inclacumab versus placebo every 12 weeks over 48 weeks. Inclacumab was generally well tolerated in THRIVE-131. The most commonly reported treatment-emergent adverse events in either group were anemia, arthralgia, back pain, headache, malaria, sickle cell anemia with crisis, and upper respiratory tract infection.
Full Release
Corporate Developments
Topic
Recent Development
Link
Agreement with U.S. Government
September 2025. Announced a historic agreement with the Trump Administration in which Pfizer has voluntarily agreed to implement measures designed to ensure Americans receive comparable drug prices to those available in other developed countries and pricing newly launched medicines at parity with other key developed markets. Under the agreement, Pfizer will also participate in a direct purchasing platform, TrumpRx.gov, that will allow American patients to purchase medicines from Pfizer at a significant discount. The large majority of the Company’s primary care treatments and some select specialty brands will be offered at savings that will range as high as 85% and on average 50%. The agreement provides a three-year grace period during which time Pfizer products under a Section 232 investigation will not face tariffs, provided the company further invests in manufacturing in the United States.
Full Release
Business Development
September 2025. Announced Pfizer entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Metsera, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company accelerating the next generation of medicines for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, for $47.50 in cash per Metsera share at closing, representing an enterprise value of approximately $4.9 billion. Additionally, the agreement includes a non-transferable contingent value right (CVR) entitling holders to potential additional payments of up to $22.50 per share tied to three specific milestones: $5 per share following the Phase 3 clinical trial start of Metsera’s injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist (MET-097i) + amylin analog (MET-233i) combination, $7 per share following FDA approval of the monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist MET-097i monotherapy, and $10.50 per share following FDA approval of the monthly MET-097i + MET-233i combination, if achieved. Pfizer expects to finance the transaction through a combination of available cash and new debt. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of approval by Metsera’s shareholders.
Full Release
October 2025. Announced the U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, with respect to Pfizer’s pending acquisition of Metsera. As such, all required regulatory approvals in respect of Pfizer’s acquisition of Metsera have been obtained.
Full Release
October-November 2025. Announced that Pfizer has filed lawsuits against Metsera, Novo Nordisk A/S and several related parties and individuals in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the U.S. District Court of the District of Delaware for claims relating to a competing proposal to acquire Metsera made by Novo Nordisk on October 25, including claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference in contract arising from Metsera’s breach of its obligations under the merger agreement between Pfizer and Metsera, as well as various antitrust-related claims. Pfizer is requesting the Delaware Court of Chancery issue a temporary restraining order to block Metsera from terminating the merger agreement and seeks all appropriate remedies to ensure the terms of the merger agreement are fully enforced. The company is confident in the merits of these cases.
Full Release
&
Full Release
PFIZER TO HOST CONFERENCE CALL
Please find Pfizer’s press release and associated financial tables, including reconciliations of certain GAAP reported to non-GAAP adjusted information, at the following hyperlink:
https://investors.pfizer.com/Q3-2025-PFE-Earnings-Release/
(Note: If clicking on the above link does not open a new webpage, you may need to cut and paste the above URL into your browser's address bar.)
Pfizer will host a live conference call and webcast today, November 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM EDT. To access the live conference call and view the third-quarter 2025 earnings presentation, accompanying prepared remarks from management, and infographic, visit our website at pfizer.com/investors.
You can also listen to the conference call by dialing either 800-456-4352 in the U.S. and Canada or 785-424-1086 outside of the U.S. and Canada. The passcode is “90164”.
The transcript and webcast replay of the call will be made available on our website at pfizer.com/investors within 24 hours after the end of the live conference call and will be accessible for at least 90 days.
For additional details, see the financial schedules and product revenue tables within the press release located at the hyperlink above, and the attached disclosure notice.
(1)
Pfizer does not provide guidance for U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) Reported financial measures (other than revenues) or a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP Reported financial measures on a forward-looking basis because it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the ultimate outcome of unusual gains and losses, certain acquisition-related expenses, gains and losses from equity securities, actuarial gains and losses from pension and postretirement plan remeasurements, potential future asset impairments and pending litigation without unreasonable effort. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on GAAP Reported results for the guidance period.
Financial guidance for full-year 2025 reflects the following:
(2)
Adjusted income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) are defined as U.S. GAAP net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders and U.S. GAAP diluted EPS attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders before the impact of amortization of intangible assets, certain acquisition-related items, discontinued operations and certain significant items. See the reconciliations of certain GAAP Reported to Non-GAAP Adjusted information for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2025 and 2024 in the press release at the hyperlink above. Adjusted income and its components and Adjusted diluted EPS measures are not, and should not be viewed as, substitutes for U.S. GAAP net income and its components and diluted EPS(3). See the Non-GAAP Financial Measure: Adjusted Income section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Pfizer’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the accompanying Non-GAAP Financial Measure: Adjusted Income section of the press release located at the hyperlink above for a definition of each component of Adjusted income as well as other relevant information.
(3)
Revenues is defined as revenues in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Reported net income and its components are defined as net income attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders and its components in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Reported diluted EPS is defined as diluted EPS attributable to Pfizer Inc. common shareholders in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(4)
On track to deliver approximately $7.7 billion in anticipated overall savings (approximately $7.2 billion of net cost savings) from previously announced cost improvement initiatives:
(5)
References to operational variances in this press release pertain to period-over-period changes that exclude the impact of foreign exchange rates. Although foreign exchange rate changes are part of Pfizer’s business, they are not within Pfizer’s control and because they can mask positive or negative trends in the business, Pfizer believes presenting operational variances excluding these foreign exchange changes provides useful information to evaluate Pfizer’s results.
(6)
Pfizer’s fiscal year-end for international subsidiaries is November 30 while Pfizer’s fiscal year-end for U.S. subsidiaries is December 31. Therefore, Pfizer’s third quarter and first nine months for U.S. subsidiaries reflects the three and nine months ended on September 28, 2025 and September 29, 2024, while Pfizer’s third quarter and first nine months for subsidiaries operating outside the U.S. reflects the three and nine months ended on August 24, 2025 and August 25, 2024.
DISCLOSURE NOTICE: Except where otherwise noted, the information contained in this earnings release and the related attachments is as of November 4, 2025. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this earnings release and the related attachments as a result of new information or future events or developments.
This earnings release and the related attachments contain forward-looking statements about, among other topics, our anticipated operating and financial performance, including financial guidance and projections; reorganizations; business plans, strategy, goals and prospects; expectations for our product pipeline (including products from completed or anticipated acquisitions), in-line products and product candidates, including anticipated regulatory submissions, data read-outs, study starts, approvals, launches, discontinuations, clinical trial results and other developing data, revenue contribution and projections, potential pricing and reimbursement, potential market dynamics, including demand, market size and utilization rates and growth, performance, timing of exclusivity and potential benefits; the impact and potential impact of tariffs and pricing dynamics; strategic reviews; leverage and capital allocation objectives; an enterprise-wide cost realignment program (including anticipated costs, savings and potential benefits); a Manufacturing Optimization Program to reduce our cost of goods sold (including anticipated costs, savings and potential benefits); dividends and share repurchases; plans for and prospects of our acquisitions, dispositions and other business development activities, including our acquisition of Seagen, our proposed acquisition of Metsera and our licensing agreement with 3SBio, and our ability to successfully capitalize on growth opportunities and prospects; our voluntary agreement with the U.S. Government designed to lower drug costs for U.S. patients and to include Pfizer products in a direct purchasing platform, and Pfizer’s plans to further invest in U.S. manufacturing; manufacturing and product supply; our ongoing efforts to respond to COVID-19; our expectations regarding the impact of COVID-19 on our business, operations and financial results; and the expected seasonality of demand for certain of our products. Given their forward-looking nature, these statements involve substantial risks, uncertainties and potentially inaccurate assumptions and we cannot assure you that any outcome expressed in these forward-looking statements will be realized in whole or in part. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use future dates or use words such as “will,” “may,” “could,” “likely,” “ongoing,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “assume,” “target,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “goal,” “objective,” “aim,” “seek,” “potential,” “hope” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Pfizer’s financial guidance is based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant uncertainties.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from past results and future plans and projected future results are the following:
Risks Related to Our Business, Industry and Operations, and Business Development:
the outcome of research and development (R&D) activities, including the ability to meet anticipated pre-clinical or clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for our pre-clinical or clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, and/or regulatory approval and/or launch dates; the possibility of unfavorable pre-clinical and clinical trial results, including the possibility of unfavorable new pre-clinical or clinical data and further analyses of existing pre-clinical or clinical data; risks associated with preliminary, early stage or interim data; the risk that pre-clinical and clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether and when additional data from our pipeline programs will be published in scientific journal publications, and if so, when and with what modifications and interpretations; and uncertainties regarding the future development of our product candidates, including whether or when our product candidates will advance to future studies or phases of development or whether or when regulatory applications may be filed for any of our product candidates, including as a result of clinical trial data or regulatory feedback that could impact the future development of our product candidates, including our vaccine candidates such as our next generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate;
our ability to successfully address comments received from regulatory authorities such as the FDA or the EMA, or obtain approval for new products and indications from regulators on a timely basis or at all;
regulatory decisions impacting labeling, approval or authorization, including the scope of indicated patient populations, product dosage, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters, including decisions relating to emerging developments regarding potential product impurities; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain or maintain, and the scope of, recommendations by technical or advisory committees, and the timing of, and ability to obtain, pricing approvals and product launches, all of which could impact the availability or commercial potential of our products and product candidates;
claims and concerns that may arise regarding the safety or efficacy of in-line products and product candidates, including claims and concerns that may arise from the conduct or outcome of post-approval clinical trials, pharmacovigilance or Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies, which could impact marketing approval, product labeling, and/or availability or commercial potential;
the success and impact of external business development activities, such as risks and uncertainties related to our proposed acquisition of Metsera and the impact of Novo Nordisk’s competing proposal on the proposed acquisition; the ability to identify and execute on potential business development opportunities; the ability to satisfy the conditions to closing of announced transactions in the anticipated time frame or at all, including the possibility that such transactions do not close; the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of any such transactions in the anticipated time frame or at all; the potential need for and impact of additional equity or debt financing to pursue these opportunities, which has in the past and could in the future result in increased leverage and/or a downgrade of our credit ratings and could limit our ability to obtain future financing; challenges integrating the businesses and operations; disruption to business or operations relationships; risks related to growing revenues for certain acquired or partnered products; significant transaction costs; and unknown liabilities;
competition, including from new product entrants, in-line branded products, generic products, private label products, biosimilars and product candidates that treat or prevent diseases and conditions similar to those treated or intended to be prevented by our in-line products and product candidates;
the ability to successfully market both new and existing products, including biosimilars;
difficulties or delays in manufacturing, sales or marketing; supply disruptions, shortages or stock-outs at our facilities or third-party facilities that we rely on; and legal or regulatory actions;
the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics (such as COVID-19) on our business, operations and financial condition and results, including impacts on our employees, manufacturing, supply chain, sales and marketing, R&D and clinical trials;
risks and uncertainties related to Comirnaty and Paxlovid or any potential future COVID-19 vaccines, treatments or combinations, including, among others, the risk that as the market for COVID-19 products remains endemic and seasonal and/or COVID-19 infection rates do not follow prior patterns, demand for our COVID-19 products has and may continue to be reduced or not meet expectations, which has in the past and may continue to lead to reduced revenues, excess inventory or other unanticipated charges; risks related to our ability to develop and commercialize variant adapted vaccines, combinations and/or treatments; uncertainties related to recommendations and coverage for, and the public’s adherence to, vaccines, boosters, treatments or combinations, including uncertainties related to the potential impact of narrowing recommended patient populations; whether or when our EUAs or biologics licenses will expire, terminate or be revoked; and potential third-party royalties or other claims related to Comirnaty and Paxlovid;
trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment, and our ability to obtain or maintain timely or adequate pricing or favorable formulary placement for our products;
interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, including the impact of global trade tensions, as well as currency devaluations and monetary policy actions in countries experiencing high inflation or deflation rates;
any significant issues involving our largest wholesale distributors or government customers, which account for a substantial portion of our revenues;
the impact of the increased presence of counterfeit medicines, vaccines or other products in the pharmaceutical supply chain;
any significant issues related to the outsourcing of certain operational and staff functions to third parties;
any significant issues related to our JVs and other third-party business arrangements, including modifications or disputes related to supply agreements or other contracts with customers including governments or other payors;
uncertainties related to general economic, political, business, industry, regulatory and market conditions including, without limitation, uncertainties related to the impact on us, our customers, suppliers and lenders and counterparties to our foreign-exchange and interest-rate agreements of challenging global economic conditions, such as inflation or interest rate fluctuations, and recent and possible future changes in global financial markets;
the exposure of our operations globally to possible capital and exchange controls, economic conditions, expropriation, sanctions, tariffs and/or other restrictive government actions, changes in intellectual property legal protections and remedies, unstable governments and legal systems and inter-governmental disputes;
risks and uncertainties related to issued or future executive orders or other new, or changes in, laws, regulations or policy regarding tariffs or other trade policy and/or the impact of any U.S. Governmental shutdowns, including impacts on governmental agencies due to the shutdown;
the risk and impact of tariffs on our business, which is subject to a number of factors including, but not limited to, restrictions on trade, the effective date and duration of such tariffs, countries included in the scope of tariffs, changes to amounts of tariffs, and potential retaliatory tariffs or other retaliatory actions imposed by other countries;
the impact of disruptions related to climate change and natural disasters;
any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to actual or threatened terrorist activity, geopolitical instability, political or civil unrest or military action, including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East and the resulting economic or other consequences;
the impact of product recalls, withdrawals and other unusual items, including uncertainties related to regulator-directed risk evaluations and assessments, such as our ongoing evaluation of our product portfolio for the potential presence or formation of nitrosamines, and our voluntary withdrawal of all lots of Oxbryta in all markets where it is approved and any regulatory or other impact on Oxbryta and other sickle cell disease assets;
trade buying patterns;
the risk of an impairment charge related to our intangible assets, goodwill or equity-method investments;
the impact of, and risks and uncertainties related to, restructurings and internal reorganizations, as well as any other corporate strategic initiatives and growth strategies, and cost-reduction and productivity initiatives, including any potential future phases, each of which requires upfront costs but may fail to yield anticipated benefits and may result in unexpected costs, organizational disruption, adverse effects on employee morale, retention issues or other unintended consequences;
the ability to successfully achieve our climate-related goals and progress our environmental sustainability and other priorities;
Risks Related to Government Regulation and Legal Proceedings:
the impact of any U.S. healthcare reform or legislation, including executive orders or other change in laws, regulations or policy, or any significant spending reduction or cost control efforts affecting Medicare, Medicaid, the 340B Drug Pricing Program or other publicly funded or subsidized health programs, including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) and the IRA Medicare Part D Redesign, or changes in the tax treatment of employer-sponsored health insurance that may be implemented;
risks and uncertainties related to the impact of Pfizer’s voluntary agreement with the U.S. Government designed to lower drug costs for U.S. patients and to include Pfizer products in a direct purchasing platform, and Pfizer’s plans to further invest in U.S. manufacturing, including risks relating to entering into definitive agreements with the U.S. Government and the initiation of new tariffs not subject to Pfizer’s grace period;
U.S. federal or state legislation or regulatory action and/or policy efforts affecting, among other things, pharmaceutical product pricing, including international reference pricing, including Most- Favored-Nation drug pricing, intellectual property, reimbursement or access to or recommendations for our medicines and vaccines, tax changes or other restrictions on U.S. direct-to-consumer advertising; limitations on interactions with healthcare professionals and other industry stakeholders; as well as pricing pressures for our products as a result of highly competitive biopharmaceutical markets;
risks and uncertainties related to changes to vaccine or other healthcare policy in the U.S., including the FDA's recently adopted policy of disclosing Complete Response Letters for unapproved drug candidates and the attendant risk of disclosure of trade secrets or confidential commercial information;
legislation or regulatory action in markets outside of the U.S., such as China or Europe, including, without limitation, laws related to pharmaceutical product pricing, intellectual property, medical regulation, environmental protections, data protection and cybersecurity, reimbursement or access, including, in particular, continued government-mandated reductions in prices and access restrictions for certain products to control costs in those markets;
legal defense costs, insurance expenses, settlement costs and contingencies, including without limitation, those related to legal proceedings and actual or alleged environmental contamination;
the risk and impact of an adverse decision or settlement and risk related to the adequacy of reserves related to legal proceedings;
the risk and impact of tax related litigation and investigations;
governmental laws, regulations and policies affecting our operations, including, without limitation, the IRA, as well as changes in such laws, regulations or policies or their interpretation, including, among others, new or changes in tariffs, tax laws and regulations internationally and in the U.S., including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was enacted on July 4, 2025, and is still subject to further guidance; the adoption of global minimum taxation requirements outside the U.S. generally effective in most jurisdictions since January 1, 2024, government cost-cutting measures and related impacts on, among other matters, government staffing, resources and ability to timely review and process regulatory or other submissions; restrictions related to certain data transfers and transactions involving certain countries; and potential changes to existing tax laws, tariffs, or changes to other laws, regulations or policies in the U.S., including by the U.S. Presidential administration and Congress, as well as in other countries;
Risks Related to Intellectual Property, Technology and Cybersecurity:
the risk that our currently pending or future patent applications may not be granted on a timely basis or at all, or any patent-term extensions that we seek may not be granted on a timely basis, if at all;
risks to our products, patents and other intellectual property, such as: (i) claims of invalidity that could result in loss of patent coverage; (ii) claims of patent infringement, including asserted and/or unasserted intellectual property claims; (iii) claims we may assert against intellectual property rights held by third parties; (iv) challenges faced by our collaboration or licensing partners to the validity of their patent rights; or (v) any pressure from, or legal or regulatory action by, various stakeholders or governments that could potentially result in us not seeking intellectual property protection or agreeing not to enforce or being restricted from enforcing intellectual property rights related to our products;
any significant breakdown or interruption of our information technology systems and infrastructure (including cloud services);
any business disruption, theft of confidential or proprietary information, security threats on facilities or infrastructure, extortion or integrity compromise resulting from a cyber-attack, which may include those using adversarial artificial intelligence techniques, or other malfeasance by, but not limited to, nation states, employees, business partners or others; and
risks and challenges related to the use of software and services that include artificial intelligence-based functionality and other emerging technologies.
Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and in our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, in each case including in the sections thereof captioned “Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in our subsequent reports on Form 8-K.
This earnings release may include discussion of certain clinical studies relating to various in-line products and/or product candidates. These studies typically are part of a larger body of clinical data relating to such products or product candidates, and the discussion herein should be considered in the context of the larger body of data. In addition, clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and, even when we view data as sufficient to support the safety and/or effectiveness of a product candidate or a new indication for an in-line product, regulatory authorities may not share our views and may require additional data or may deny approval altogether.
The information contained on our website or any third-party website is not incorporated by reference into this earnings release. All trademarks mentioned are the property of their owners.
Certain of the products and product candidates discussed in this earnings release are being co-researched, co-developed and/or co-promoted in collaboration with other companies for which Pfizer’s rights vary by market or are the subject of agreements pursuant to which Pfizer has commercialization rights in certain markets.
