Our History

Pfizer has a long history of innovation in healthcare and research, across the world and in New Zealand. 

In 1961 Pfizer began operations in Auckland. Many of the diseases that significantly impacted the lives of Kiwis at that time can now be managed through medication because of the hard work and commitment of Pfizer people, and others working in the health sector.

Every day our people work together with the purpose of ensuring that Kiwis can reliably access new and innovative, and other essential medicines that are being used to treat some of the most feared conditions of our time.

Pfizer in New Zealand

2016 Acquisition of Medivation boosting oncology expertise

2015 Acquisition of Hospira, establishing New Zealand’s largest range of sterile injectable products

2014 Acquisition of Baxter’s vaccines portfolio

2013 Spin off of Pfizer’s Animal Health unit, Zoetis

2012 Sale of Pfizer Nutrition

2009 Acquisition of Wyeth expands biopharmaceutical portfolio

2006 Sale of Pfizer Consumer Health

2004 Acquisition of CSL Animal Health

2003 Acquisition of Pharmacia, gaining pain management medicine celebrex

2000 Acquisition of Warner Lambert, enhancing consumer portfolio

1995 Acquisition of SmithKline Beecham’s animal health business

1993/4 Triple rollout of major new medicines: Zoloft®, Norvasc® and Zithromax®

1980s Discover and launch of the world’s first patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device

1979 Acquisition of G-Chem

1977 Launch of sustained-release drug ‘Eryc’ (enteric-coated pellets of erythromycin)

1961 Pfizer New Zealand established