As part of its strategy to increase commercial value, the company focuses on developing and maintaining partnerships with the company’s business units to support innovation across the product life cycle, drive revenue creation and enhancement, and optimize supply-chain security. From an organizational perspective, PGS operates nine operating units, seven that support Pfizer business units and two that are responsible for managing external supply and transitioning sites. The PGS operating units support business units in specialty care, primary care, oncology, emerging markets, established products, animal health, consumer healthcare, and nutrition. The functions of these units and PGS operating units that focus on external supply and transitioning sites are supported by global logistics and supply activities, quality operations, global manufacturing services, and network-enabling functions, such as finance, human resources, legal, and procurement.

Kelly emphasizes that the company’s supply strategy is shaped by various factors affecting the industry. “The product mix is changing,” says Kelly. “We see shifts not only in small molecules versus large molecules, but see the need to address supply challenges caused by the changing blockbuster model and a move to smaller-volume products.”

As part of those changes in product demand, as well as part of it integration with Wyeth, Pfizer announced plans to exit 13 sites during the next several years. The timing of specific exits will depend upon the complexity of operations, the amount of time needed for product transfers, and other business requirements. Earlier this year, Pfizer sold its manufacturing plant at Dun Laoghaire, Ireland to Amgen. The 37,000-m² aseptic operations facility has freeze-dried product and liquid vial-filling operations. Pfizer sold its bulk biologics facility in Shanbally, Ireland, to the biopharmaceutical company BioMarin. Pfizer also recently sold its consumer healthcare manufacturing facility in Richmond, Virginia, to Fareva, a pharmaceutical and consumer-products company, which will continue to supply Pfizer with product from the facility.