Pfizer UK
Encyclopedia
Pfizer UK is the principal subsidiary of the multinational
pharmaceutical company Pfizer
in the United Kingdom
. Pfizer UK employs over 4,000 people and spends around £550 million per year on research and development in the UK. Pfizer UK operates one of Pfizer's four global research and development hubs in Sandwich
, Kent
, which is home to over 2,000 scientists and is the largest research and development site of any foreign-owned pharmaceutical company in the UK.
in 1979 in recognition of the outstanding contribution made to tropical medicine by the medicine Mansil (oxamniquine)
, which was developed at the Sandwich site. Feldene (piroxicam)
, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
developed jointly by the Sandwich site and Pfizer's R&D facility in Groton
, USA, was launched in 1980. In 1984 a third phase of buildings was completed at the Sandwich site. The oral antifungal drug Diflucan (fluconazole)
, which had been discovered at the Sandwich site, was launched in 1988. Pfizer UK was presented with the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement in 1991, in recognition of its discovery of Diflucan. In 1993 Pfizer UK was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. Pfizer UK was awarded the Queen's Award for International Trade in 1997 and 2000.
drug Viagra (sildenafil)
. In 2002 Pfizer UK relocated its headquarters and sales and marketing functions to new offices at Walton Oaks, near Tadworth
, Surrey
. In June 2003 Pfizer UK began offering employees at the Sandwich site the option of leaving work at noon on Fridays if their work was completed. In September 2007 it was announced that Pfizer UK would close its last remaining manufacturing plant, with the loss of 420 jobs. In May 2008 Dr Ken Richardson was inducted into the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame
for his role in the discovery of Diflucan whilst working at Pfizer UK. Construction of an £87 million link road between the Sandwich site and the A299
was approved by the British Government in August 2009. On 1 February 2011 Pfizer announced that it would be closing the entire research and development facility at Sandwich within 18-24 months, as part of a company-wide plan to exit certain therapeutic areas including allergy and respiratory research, which is based at Sandwich. In its announcement Pfizer stated that the majority of the 2,400 workers at the site would be made redundant, although it hoped to transfer several hundred positions to other sites or to Pfizer partner companies. On 4 February 2011 it was announced that the Science and Technology Select Committee
would be requesting oral evidence from representatives of Pfizer and the Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willetts
on the closure of the Sandwich site.
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
pharmaceutical company Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Pfizer UK employs over 4,000 people and spends around £550 million per year on research and development in the UK. Pfizer UK operates one of Pfizer's four global research and development hubs in Sandwich
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, which is home to over 2,000 scientists and is the largest research and development site of any foreign-owned pharmaceutical company in the UK.
20th century
In order to satisfy regulations then in place in the UK on the importation of medicines, Pfizer established a compounding operation in Folkstone, Kent in the Autumn of 1952. Pfizer acquired an 80 acre site on the outskirts of Sandwich in 1954 to enable the expansion of its Kent-based activities. In 1955 Pfizer established an animal-feed plant at the Sandwich site and entered the UK non-prescription market. In 1957 an Agricultural Division was opened at the Sandwich site. In 1964 Pfizer UK acquired additional land adjacent to its existing site in Sandwich, known as the 'West Site'. Pfizer UK established 'Pfizer Central Research' in 1971 with the mission to discover new pharmaceutical, chemical and agricultural products for Pfizer's worldwide operations. Pfizer UK was presented with the Queen's Award for Technological AchievementQueen's Awards for Enterprise
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise is an awards programme for British businesses and other organizations who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. They are the highest official UK awards for British businesses...
in 1979 in recognition of the outstanding contribution made to tropical medicine by the medicine Mansil (oxamniquine)
Oxamniquine
Oxamniquine is an anthelmintic with schistosomicidal activity against Schistosoma mansoni, but not against other Schistosoma spp. Oxamniquine is a potent single-dose agent for treatment of S...
, which was developed at the Sandwich site. Feldene (piroxicam)
Piroxicam
Piroxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of the oxicam class used to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, primary dysmenorrhoea, postoperative pain; and act as an analgesic, especially where there is an inflammatory component...
, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs or NAIDs, but also referred to as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents/analgesics or nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory medicines , are drugs with analgesic and antipyretic effects and which have, in higher doses, anti-inflammatory...
developed jointly by the Sandwich site and Pfizer's R&D facility in Groton
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
, USA, was launched in 1980. In 1984 a third phase of buildings was completed at the Sandwich site. The oral antifungal drug Diflucan (fluconazole)
Fluconazole
Fluconazole is a triazole antifungal drug used in the treatment and prevention of superficial and systemic fungal infections. In a bulk powder form, it appears as a white crystalline powder, and it is very slightly soluble in water and soluble in alcohol. It is commonly marketed under the trade...
, which had been discovered at the Sandwich site, was launched in 1988. Pfizer UK was presented with the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement in 1991, in recognition of its discovery of Diflucan. In 1993 Pfizer UK was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. Pfizer UK was awarded the Queen's Award for International Trade in 1997 and 2000.
21st century
In April 2001 Pfizer UK received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the discovery and development of the erectile dysfunctionErectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
drug Viagra (sildenafil)
Sildenafil
Sildenafil citrate, sold as Viagra, Revatio and under various other trade names, is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension . It was originally developed by British scientists and then brought to market by the US-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer...
. In 2002 Pfizer UK relocated its headquarters and sales and marketing functions to new offices at Walton Oaks, near Tadworth
Tadworth
Tadworth is a large suburban village in Surrey, on the south-east slope of Epsom Downs. It forms part of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The census area Tadworth and Walton has a population of 7,016. Neighbouring settlements include Walton-on-the-Hill, Kingswood, Epsom, Burgh Heath, Banstead,...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. In June 2003 Pfizer UK began offering employees at the Sandwich site the option of leaving work at noon on Fridays if their work was completed. In September 2007 it was announced that Pfizer UK would close its last remaining manufacturing plant, with the loss of 420 jobs. In May 2008 Dr Ken Richardson was inducted into the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
for his role in the discovery of Diflucan whilst working at Pfizer UK. Construction of an £87 million link road between the Sandwich site and the A299
A299 road
The A299, better known as the Thanet Way, is a major road in the county of Kent, England, and runs from Brenley Corner near Faversham to Ramsgate via Whitstable and Herne Bay. It is predominantly used for freight traffic to Ramsgate Harbour and local traffic to Thanet.Most of the A299 was...
was approved by the British Government in August 2009. On 1 February 2011 Pfizer announced that it would be closing the entire research and development facility at Sandwich within 18-24 months, as part of a company-wide plan to exit certain therapeutic areas including allergy and respiratory research, which is based at Sandwich. In its announcement Pfizer stated that the majority of the 2,400 workers at the site would be made redundant, although it hoped to transfer several hundred positions to other sites or to Pfizer partner companies. On 4 February 2011 it was announced that the Science and Technology Select Committee
Science and Technology Select Committee
The Science and Technology Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The original Science and Technology was abolished upon the creation of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee on November 6, 2007...
would be requesting oral evidence from representatives of Pfizer and the Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willetts
David Willetts
David Linsay Willetts is a British Conservative Party politician and the Minister of State for Universities and Science. He is the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Havant in Hampshire.-Education:...
on the closure of the Sandwich site.