Pfizer reports second-quarter 2012 results

Pfizer Inc. reported financial results for second-quarter 2012. Second-quarter 2012 revenues were $15.1 billion, a decrease of 9% compared with $16.5 billion in the year-ago quarter, which reflects an operational decline of $977 million, or 6%, and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange of $451 million, or 3%.

For second-quarter 2012, U.S. revenues were $5.7 billion, a decrease of 15% compared with the year-ago quarter. This decrease was primarily the result of the U.S. loss of exclusivity of Lipitor on November 30, 2011. International revenues were $9.3 billion, a decrease of 5% compared with the prior-year quarter, primarily due to the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange. U.S. revenues represented 38% of total revenues in second-quarter 2012 compared with 41% in the year-ago quarter, while international revenues represented 62% of total revenues in second-quarter 2012 compared with 59% in the year-ago quarter.

Primary Care unit revenues decreased 31% operationally in comparison with the same period last year, primarily due to the loss of exclusivity of Lipitor in the U.S. in November 2011 and the resulting shift in the reporting of U.S. Lipitor revenues to the Established Products unit beginning January 1, 2012. U.S. branded Lipitor revenues, as reported by the Established Products unit, decreased to $296 million, from $1.4 billion reported by the Primary Care unit in second-quarter 2011, due to the aforementioned loss of exclusivity and the entry of multi-source generic competition in May 2012. Collectively, the decline in worldwide revenues for Lipitor and for certain other Primary Care unit products that lost exclusivity in various markets in 2012 and 2011, as well as the resulting shift in the reporting of certain product revenues to the Established Products unit, reduced Primary Care unit revenues by approximately $2.0 billion, or 34%, in comparison with second-quarter 2011. The impact of these declines was partially offset by the strong growth of Lyrica and Celebrex.

Specialty Care unit revenues declined 2% operationally in comparison with second-quarter 2011. Revenues were positively impacted by the growth of Enbrel, as well as the Prevenar franchise in Japan and Australia, while U.S. Prevnar 13 revenues were essentially flat and developed Europe Prevenar 13 revenues were slightly lower than in the prior-year quarter since most patients eligible to receive the pediatric catch-up dose have already been vaccinated and utilization in adults is minimal at this time. Additionally, Specialty Care unit revenues were negatively impacted by the losses of exclusivity of Vfend and Xalatan in the U.S. in February and March 2011, respectively, and the resulting shift in the reporting of Vfend and Xalatan U.S. revenues to the Established Products unit beginning January 1, 2012, as well as the loss of exclusivity of Xalatan in developed Europe in January 2012 and Geodon in the U.S. in March 2012. Collectively, these developments relating to Vfend, Xalatan and Geodon reduced Specialty Care unit revenues by approximately $265 million, or 7%, in comparison with second-quarter 2011.

Established Products unit revenues increased 18% operationally in comparison with the prior-year period, primarily reflecting $433 million of U.S. and Japan branded Lipitor revenues, contribution from the sales of the authorized generic version of Lipitor in the U.S. by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and launches of generic versions of other Pfizer branded primary care and specialty care products. Second-quarter 2012 revenues were negatively impacted in comparison with second-quarter 2011 by the entry of multi-source generic competition in the U.S. for donepezil (Aricept) in May 2011, as well as the continuing decline of U.S. revenues of certain products that previously lost exclusivity. Total revenues from established products in both the Established Products and Emerging Markets units were $3.8 billion, with $1.1 billion generated in emerging markets.

Emerging Markets unit revenues grew 14% operationally in comparison with second-quarter 2011, primarily due to volume growth mainly in China and Russia as a result of more targeted promotional efforts for key products, including Lipitor, Norvasc and Lyrica. Additionally, growth was driven by the timing of government purchases of Prevenar 13 in Turkey and Enbrel in Brazil compared with the year-ago quarter. Growth was partially offset by the timing of government purchases of Prevenar 13 and certain other products in Mexico in comparison with the year-ago period.

Ian Read, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We delivered solid results this quarter. This performance was achieved despite the $1.8 billion, or 11%, negative impact on revenues of product losses of exclusivity compared with the year-ago period, primarily Lipitor in most major markets. Worldwide revenues from many of our key medicines, including Celebrex, Enbrel, Lyrica and the Prevnar/Prevenar franchise, increased and our Emerging Markets unit generated 14% operational revenue growth, driven primarily by our targeted investments in China and Russia. Overall, I am confident that Pfizer is well-positioned for long-term success given the potential of our innovative late-stage and emerging pipeline, strong operating cash flow, streamlined organization and disciplined approach to capital allocation.”

“We are committed to keeping our capital allocation priorities aligned with the best interests of our shareholders. The pending sale of our Nutrition business and potential separation of our Animal Health business as a stand-alone public company to be named Zoetis remain on track. We anticipate filing a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission by mid-August for a potential initial public offering (IPO) of up to a 20% ownership stake in Zoetis. If the IPO is successfully completed, which we are targeting for the first half of 2013, we will have a variety of options to achieve a potential full separation of Zoetis. As we continue to work toward a separation of this business, we remain open to all alternatives to maximize the after-tax return for our shareholders,” concluded Mr. Read.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. Our diversified global health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world’s best-known consumer products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as the world’s leading biopharmaceutical company, we also collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us.