Pfizer

Pfizer logo

Pfizer Inc is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation that develops and manufactures a wide range of medicines and vaccines. It is one of the world's premier biopharmaceutical companies.

Positive signals

S&P Global assigned Pfizer an ESG score in March 2025, reflecting the company’s management of material ESG risks, opportunities, and impacts relative to its industry peers.

Pfizer received an ESG Risk Rating from Sustainalytics in April 2025, which evaluates the company’s exposure to and management of material ESG risks, including environmental, social, and governance factors.

Pfizer’s 2025 guidance reaffirmed its ongoing evaluation of product safety and regulatory compliance, including voluntary withdrawal of products such as Oxbryta in response to risk assessments, indicating a proactive approach to product safety and regulatory obligations.

Pfizer has set a target to source 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025 and 100% by 2030, demonstrating a significant commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing environmental sustainability.

Pfizer’s ESG performance is monitored and rated by MarketBeat, which tracks society, knowledge, health, environment, and sustainability scores for the company, providing transparency for investors and stakeholders.

Concerns

Despite ESG commitments, Pfizer’s history of legal and ethical controversies, as noted by TechTarget, continues to pose reputational and regulatory risks for the company and its stakeholders.

Pfizer has faced a high level of ESG controversy in the past three years, as indicated by Sustainalytics, which factors into its overall ESG risk profile and signals ongoing reputational and operational risks.

Pfizer’s ESG risk profile includes exposure to risks from restructurings, internal reorganizations, and cost-reduction initiatives, which may result in organizational disruption, adverse effects on employee morale, and retention issues.

Pfizer’s 2025 guidance highlights risks related to product recalls, withdrawals, and regulatory-directed risk evaluations, such as the voluntary withdrawal of all lots of Oxbryta, which may have regulatory and reputational impacts.

Pfizer, like other major pharmaceutical companies, has been financially penalized for legal violations, including multimillion-dollar settlements with the US Department of Justice for alleged False Claims Act violations.

CRITICAL
Source