Pfizer: A Shelter in the Storm?

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Pfizer. They made a vaccine, a lot of people got it, and for a while, things felt… less apocalyptic. They made about $37 billion from it, which, let’s be honest, is a sum that could solve a lot of problems, if only problems were so easily solved. It’s a temporary boost, of course. Everything is. So it goes.

The vaccine money is fading, and some older drugs are losing their patents. It’s the natural order. Like dust motes in a sunbeam, everything eventually drifts away. But Pfizer seems to have seen it coming. They’re shuffling things around, buying other companies, trying to build a future. A noble effort, really. Though, whether it will work? That’s anyone’s guess.

Is this the only big pharma stock you’d hold onto when the market decides to throw a tantrum? Let’s look at the pieces. Just the facts, ma’am. Though, facts, as we all know, are often remarkably unreliable.

The Patent Cliff

A few years ago, Pfizer was riding high. The vaccine, plus some older blockbusters like Eliquis and Ibrance, were printing money. Now, the vaccine demand is slowing, and those older drugs are facing competition. Patents expire. It’s the way of the world. A perfectly predictable tragedy.

Pfizer wasn’t idle, though. They started buying up other companies, focusing on research, and generally trying to future-proof themselves. A smart move. Though, the future is a slippery thing, always just out of reach.

The purchase of Seagen was interesting. Gave them a few drugs, including Padcev for bladder cancer. That one’s doing well, over a billion in revenue. Oncology is the focus now. Trying to find cures, or at least, treatments. A worthwhile endeavor, even if the odds are stacked against them.

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Chasing Weight Loss

Then there’s the weight loss market. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are leading the charge, and it’s expected to be a $100 billion market by the end of the decade. A lot of money. People are desperate to change their bodies. A perfectly understandable desperation, really.

Pfizer bought Metsera, a company developing weight loss drugs. They’re aiming for monthly dosing, which could be an advantage over the weekly injections currently available. Ten obesity studies are underway. A lot of work. A lot of hope.

In the meantime, Pfizer is reporting growth from recent launches and acquisitions. Over $10 billion last year, up from $8.9 billion. They’re also cutting costs and reinvesting in research. A sensible strategy. Though, it doesn’t guarantee success. Nothing ever does.

Pfizer is firing on all cylinders, trying to build a path to growth. It might just work. It might not. But if you’re looking for a relatively safe harbor in a stormy sea, it’s not a bad place to start. So it goes.

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2026-02-20 10:52