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Information for Health Care Professionals Related to the Global Multi—Product Settlement with the Federal and State Governments Announced on September 2, 2009 ("the September 2009 Settlement")

On September 2, 2009, Pfizer announced the settlement of federal and state government investigations regarding allegations related to the promotion of Bextra and a number of other Pfizer pharmaceutical products for a total of $2.3 billion. In addition, the company reached agreements with attorneys general in 42 states and the District of Columbia to settle state civil consumer protection allegations with respect to its promotion of Geodon.

View the press release for the September 2009 Settlement.

View the Corporate Integrity Agreement Pfizer entered into with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General as part of the September 2009 Settlement.

If you are a Health Care Professional with additional questions about the September 2009 Settlement or wish to report any instances in which you believe that a Pfizer representative inappropriately promoted a product or engaged in other questionable conduct, please call 866–490–2633.

Pfizer Corporate Compliance

Pfizer's Corporate Compliance Program represents a shared undertaking on the part of colleagues ranging from the highest levels of management to the most junior employees. Our Corporate Compliance Program incorporates the elements in accordance with the "Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers" ("OIG Guidance") developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General ("OIG"). Click below for a brief description of each element.

Written Policies and Procedures

In the United States, some of the policies that provide our colleagues with guidance around their conduct of day–to–day operations include the following:

Revised Global Standards of Business Conduct "The Blue Book"
The Blue Book is Pfizer's code of business conduct for all colleagues.

The Orange Guide (The Field Guide)

Policies & Procedures: Health Care Law Compliance Guide ("The White Guide") (2010) and supplements.

Chief Compliance and Risk Officer and Compliance Committees

Douglas M. Lankler serves as the Company's Chief Compliance and Risk Officer and is responsible for overseeing Pfizer's global compliance program. In this capacity, Mr. Lankler reports directly to the CEO and makes regular reports to the Audit Committee and the Regulatory & Compliance Committee of the Board of Directors. Mr. Lankler heads the Compliance Division, which is responsible for administering all aspects of the Compliance Program, including training programs and monitoring systems, developing informational resources, and investigating potential violations of law or Company policy. Mr. Lankler also chairs the Corporate Compliance Committee, which is made up of senior leaders from across the Company and is a member of the Executive Compliance Committee, which oversees and supports Pfizer's efforts to ensure that its business is conducted appropriately in every country in which it operates around the world.

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Effective Training and Education

Pfizer is committed to providing effective training to employees, managers, officers, and directors regarding the Corporate Compliance Program. Training resources include online compliance education, as well as online access to policies, including the Blue Book, the Orange Guide and the White Guide. There is also an online training program that supports compliance education.

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Effective Lines of Communication

Pfizer provides multiple channels for reporting general issues and raising compliance concerns. The Company has Open Door, anti–retaliation, and confidentiality policies to encourage and protect colleagues who raise a valid concern.

Open Door Policy
Pfizer adheres to an "Open Door Policy," and encourages colleagues to discuss all issues, concerns, problems and suggestions with their immediate supervisor or other manager without fear of retaliation and with the assurance that the matter will be kept as confidential as possible.

Corporate Compliance Direct
At Pfizer, colleagues can contact the Compliance Division directly in any of the following ways:

Compliance Helpline
Where available and permitted by law, Pfizer's Compliance Helpline allows colleagues to report a concern or to get information or advice anonymously. If available, the Compliance Helpline is available by phone or online via the web–reporting tool. This resource is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and is offered in 70 languages. The Compliance Helpline is operated by specially trained third–party representatives:

  • Compliance Helpline Number* (U.S. and Puerto Rico): 1.866.866.PFIZ (7349)

    *The Compliance Helpline numbers for Pfizer locations outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico can be provided upon request.

  • Compliance Helpline Web–Reporting Tool https://pfizer.alertline.com

Communication to Management About Compliance Issues
The Compliance Division communicates with management about compliance matters. The development and implementation of compliance policy benefit substantially when colleagues at all management levels are engaged.

Communication to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the Full Board of Directors
Communication with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the full Board is part of an effective compliance program. Members of the Board and its Audit Committee are readily accessible to management and the Compliance Division.

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Internal Monitoring and Auditing

Internal monitoring and auditing are vital parts of the Corporate Compliance Program. Monitoring and auditing business processes does more than simply verify their thorough and efficient operation. Effective monitoring and auditing can provide an organization with the capacity to detect and prevent deviations that, in certain circumstances, can potentially engender compliance concerns. The Corporate Internal Audit team maintains responsibility for auditing the policies and procedures of the Corporate Compliance Program.

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Enforcement Through Discipline Pursuant to Published Guidelines

Our Compliance Guidance documents (e.g., Blue Book, Orange Guide and White Guide) educate colleagues about our company's commitment to compliance. The Guidance documents put all colleagues, including management, on notice that failure to adhere to our compliance standards may have disciplinary consequences, up to and including termination of employment. If an investigation suggests that discipline may be warranted, appropriate action is taken.

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Prompt Response and Corrective Action for Detected Problems

Our compliance program supports prompt response and corrective action for detected problems as appropriate under the circumstances. It is expected that compliance concerns referred through any of the many communication channels (personal contact, email, Compliance Helpline, etc.) will be carefully reviewed, thoroughly and thoughtfully investigated in a timely manner, and appropriately resolved.

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Pfizer Policies on Interactions with Health Care Professionals In California and Declaration of Compliance

Policies that regulate Pfizer colleagues' interactions with health care professionals in the United States reflect our commitment to compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations. We review and revise our policies as we deem appropriate to meet the requirements of a highly regulated and complex health care environment. California SB 1765 (California Business & Professions Code ıı 119400, 119402) requires pharmaceutical companies to set an annual aggregate limit on certain promotional expenditures provided to a medical or health care professional as defined under the statute.

The statute excludes from covered promotional expenditures such items as drug samples given to medical or health care professionals intended for free distribution to patients, financial support for continuing medical education forums, financial support for health educational scholarships, and payments made at fair market value for legitimate professional services provided by health care professionals.

In light of California SB 1765, Pfizer has modified certain policies and procedures that regulate interactions with covered medical and health care professionals in the State of California. Pfizer has set a specific annual dollar limit on gifts, promotional materials, and items or activities that we may give or otherwise provide to an individual medical or health care professional as defined under the statute.

Subject to this law, Pfizer has determined that the annual aggregate limit on covered promotional expenditures is set at $3,500 per covered medical or health care professional for annual periods commencing on May 1, 2008. This limit may be revised by Pfizer from time to time. The foregoing limit does not represent a usual, customary, average or typical amount for medical or health care professionals.

This annual aggregate limit is based on an estimate of the maximum value of gifts, promotional materials and other items or activities as defined herein that a medical or health care professional may receive in one year. In setting this limit, we have taken into account the size of the Company and the size of its product portfolio. Pfizer is the largest pharmaceutical company in the United States with the largest field force.

The Company markets more than 20 products, many of which are prescribed by the same base of primary care physicians. This often requires multiple interactions with the same physician to provide appropriate information on our products. Our sales force has been advised and will be reminded that this limit applies to covered medical or health care professionals in California. We do not believe it applies to medical or health care professionals practicing in other states. Each category of items or activities that are included in the annual aggregate limit — gifts, promotional materials, and other items or activities — is discussed separately below.

In March 2011, Pfizer acquired full ownership of King Pharmaceuticals Inc. King has determined that the annual aggregate limit on covered promotional expenditures is set at $2,500 per covered medical or health care professional for annual periods. Going forward, Legacy King activities will be captured under the Pfizer reporting procedures.

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Gifts

The PhRMA Code allows pharmaceutical companies to provide "items primarily for the education of patients or health care professionals if the items are not of substantial value ($100 or less) and do not have value to health care professionals outside of his or her professional responsibilities," as long as "they are not offered or provided in a manner or on conditions that would interfere with the independence of a health care professional's prescribing practices." Our annual aggregate limit on certain promotion–related expenditures excludes the provision of items permissible under the PhRMA Code as being of minimal value (less than a $25 retail value) and primarily for the education of patients or health care professionals.

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Promotional Materials

Neither California SB 1765, nor the PhRMA Code, nor the OIG Guidance defines "promotional materials." For purposes of this statute, Pfizer interprets that promotional materials are not materials that, under the PhRMA Code, form the basis of our interactions with medical and health care professionals. Accordingly, Pfizer does not include in its definition of "promotional materials," documents and information that inform medical or health care professionals about Pfizer products, provide scientific and educational data, or support medical research and education.

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Other Items or Activities

California SB 1765 also subjects to the per–medical or health care professional annual aggregate limit all other "items or activities that the pharmaceutical company may give or otherwise provide to an individual medical or health care professional in accordance with the [OIG Guidance] and with the [PhRMA Code]." We include, among other items in this category, the retail cost of meals provided to covered medical or health care professionals in connection with educational presentations. Historically, Pfizer has not limited attendance at these educational events. The per–medical or health care professional annual aggregate limit on certain promotional expenditures reflects Pfizer's commitment to responsible education and reasonable facilitation of attendance at educational programs in California. To comply with California SB 1765, Pfizer will monitor and limit, if necessary, the number of educational presentations that covered medical or health care professionals may attend during the reporting period to ensure compliance with the annual aggregate limit.

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Pfizer Declaration of Compliance

In September, 2007, Pfizer amended the annual aggregate limit on covered promotional expenditures to $3,500 per covered medical or health care professional. Pfizer declares, in good faith, that for the reporting period commencing on May 1, 2010 and ending April 30, 2011, it is in substantial compliance with its Comprehensive Compliance Program and the requirements of California SB 1765 and that it has not exceeded its original annual aggregate limit of $3,500 per covered medical or health care professional. Our declaration is based upon an analysis of information available during the twelve (12) month period from May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011. The next declaration will be based upon information captured beginning May 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012.

King Declaration of Compliance

Pfizer declares, in good faith, that for the reporting period commencing on May 1, 2010 and ending April 30, 2011, based on Pfizer's review of legacy King data and policies, legacy King was substantially in compliance with King's Comprehensive Compliance Program and the requirements of California SB 1765 and that it did not exceed its original annual aggregate limit of $1,500 per covered medical or health care professional. This declaration is based upon an analysis of legacy King information available during the twelve (12) month period from May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011.

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Conclusion

We have embedded in the structure of our Corporate Compliance Program, and established in our guidelines for interactions with health care professionals, the principles articulated in the OIG Guidance and PhRMA Code. As appropriate, and consistent with the law, we will amend and update our policies, and this statement, to ensure compliance with the law. A description of Pfizer's Corporate Compliance Program, including the Company's written declaration and certification of compliance with California SB 1765, can be requested by calling the Compliance Division directly via telephone at (212) 733–3026, via Pfizer's Compliance Helpline number at (866) 866–7349 (PFIZ), or by emailing us at corporate.compliance@pfizer.com.

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Note: All policies are subject to regular monitoring and evaluation.

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