Pfizer and the Challenges of the Global Pharmaceutical Industry 2013 (A)

This is part of a case series. The case focuses on describing and analysing the environment, profitability and competitiveness of the global pharmaceutical industry, and to evaluate the current and future strategy of Pfizer. It features a large number of tables with quantitative data that help solving the case study. The case starts with a short description of recent important events that might mark a turning point for the whole industry. It then focuses on the overall market on drugs - structure, growth, blockbusters, and the influence of national health care systems. Furthermore, firms’ R&D efforts and the patenting system are presented including implications for prices and profits. The last section of the case text focuses on the two types of competition in the industry: between and within patents. The (B) case covers a description of the 10 largest pharmaceutical firms and highlights a number of strategic manoeuvres of major players in the last years. At the end, the reader is referred back to the Pfizer situation and Pfizer’s recent strategic initiatives and responses to the market changes.