Pfizer's history 1990-2008

More R&D success

The run of Sandwich discoveries continued to come onto the market.

Istin (amlodipine), a single daily dose for the relief of angina and hypertension, was launched in the UK before anywhere else in the world. It involved an unprecedented clinical trials programme of over 3,000 people.

In 1991, the Research Division was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement for Diflucan (fluconazole), a systemic antifungal.

Outside Research, the Pharmaceutical Division set up the Richborough marketing division to sell Zithromax (azithromycin), an antibiotic for treating respiratory-tract infections and sexually transmitted infections.

By early 1992, Pfizer Limited had brought more new products to the market in a three year period than any other pharmaceutical company in Britain. Although the company had established itself in the field of antibiotics, they now accounted for only 15% of the division's medicines.

In 1993, Pfizer Ltd was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement, the first time that the company had been honoured in this way. Pfizer soon achieved more recognition when it was awarded the Queen's Award for International Trade (formerly the Queen’s Award for Export) twice - in 1997 and 2000.

The ‘new’ Pfizer

In June 2000, the US parent company, Pfizer Inc, merged with pharmaceutical company Warner Lambert to create a ‘new’ Pfizer. In the UK, this made Pfizer Ltd a market leader in Consumer Healthcare.

In April 2001, Pfizer Ltd received its sixth Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The award was made for innovation in the discovery and development of Viagra (sildenafil), used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The medicine, discovered at Pfizer's Sanwich laboratories, was also awarded 'Millennium Status' by the UK Design Council, recognising it as one of the country's most innovative products.

In 2002, Pfizer's sales and marketing functions were relocated to new offices at Walton Oaks in Surrey. The innovative buildings, which won a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for its design, became the headquasrters for Pfizer's UK operating business.

During April 2003, Pfizer and Pharmacia combined operations, bringing together two of the world’s fastest-growing and most innovative companies. This made Pfizer Ltd the largest pharmaceutical company in the UK and the number one supplier of medicines to the NHS.