Cuts @ Pfizer confirmed! Ian Speaks.

Ian confirmed today @ 235 that cutbacks @ Pfizer are solid. Announcement will
come January 26, 2009. Ian is in the process of putting together a letter/video
that speaks to the cutback. Twenty-five percent across the board, except DM's
where the slashing will be as high as 40-50% depending on area. Watch for more
info to come.

Good luck and Happy Holidays from Pfizer!

This is right on! Florida meeting says Jan. 26 timeframe,
DM's highest percent to get slashed. Pfizer is sheding many,
many, DM's---what a worthless lot!

Dear Mr. Kindler,

I have been a loyal Pfizer rep for many years and have always held my head high even during tough times. I have worked hard and put in many hours past 5:00 PM, when you consider Speaker Programs and administrative work. All at the expense of my family. My numbers and evaluations were above expectations. I have put my all into this job and now ask for one thing in return. May I please be severed during THIS layoff. If at all possible, please cut me as of today so that I can go on with my life and make future plans. My family would also like to thank you for prolonging the decision making process. My youngest child has been so worried AGAIN this year about her single Mommy not having a job and she is worried we won't have enough to eat. She doesn't care about any Christmas gifts, she just wants her Mommy to be happy again. If you would announce your intentions today, we may actually able to enjoy at least THIS year's holiday, since so many have been ruined in the prior years. Please call me at home this evening with a positive response to my request. I will be waiting patiently by the phone and look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Feed Up

Dear "Tuffy Pants Big Talker,"

Your wish will be granted if you would just give me your name.

Thanks,

Jeff K.

so... you actually tell your children that you are about to be severed? that is great parenting... are you actually trying to make your kids grow up faster than they already are? idiot.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear Mr. Kindler,

I have been a loyal Pfizer rep for many years and have always held my head high even during tough times. I have worked hard and put in many hours past 5:00 PM, when you consider Speaker Programs and administrative work. All at the expense of my family. My numbers and evaluations were above expectations. I have put my all into this job and now ask for one thing in return. May I please be severed during THIS layoff. If at all possible, please cut me as of today so that I can go on with my life and make future plans. My family would also like to thank you for prolonging the decision making process. My youngest child has been so worried AGAIN this year about her single Mommy not having a job and she is worried we won't have enough to eat. She doesn't care about any Christmas gifts, she just wants her Mommy to be happy again. If you would announce your intentions today, we may actually able to enjoy at least THIS year's holiday, since so many have been ruined in the prior years. Please call me at home this evening with a positive response to my request. I will be waiting patiently by the phone and look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Feed Up

...then get on with your life. Don't let Pfizer dictate what you do with your life.
Pfizer's responsibility is to operate as a profitable business. Your responsibility is to provide a living for your family, with or without Pfizer.

Be grateful they're going to give you a wonderful severence and stop your whining.

Obviously I failed in relaying my message since you were both offended. It was not meant to be funny nor do I tell my children I may be severed, although I truly want out. But that's besides the point. Please read it again and hopefully you will realize I was trying to make an attempt to state how sad this whole thing is for all of us and our families. I apologize if I have offended you. It was simply my way of stating how cruel he has been to all. My apologies.

Pfizer May Have Wave of Firings Amid Generic Threat (Update1)
Email | Print | A A A

By Shannon Pettypiece

Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Pfizer Inc., the world’s biggest drugmaker, may announce new job cuts by the end of next month as it works to curb spending before cheaper copies of its top- selling drug Lipitor flood the market.

The company, based in New York, is expected to fire workers in sales and marketing and will probably announce its plans in January along with its 2009 earnings forecast, said Barbara Ryan, a Deutsche Bank analyst, and Les Funtleyder, a health-care analyst at Miller Tabak & Co.

Pfizer has slashed 14,000 jobs since January 2007, when Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Kindler announced a plan to trim spending by as much as $2 billion by the end of this year. Pfizer now needs to cut even deeper because it doesn’t have enough products in development to offset the more than $12 billion in revenue it will start losing in November 2011, when generic copies of Lipitor, a cholesterol pill, go on sale, the analysts said.

“Pfizer will continue to reduce costs along with head count,” said Ryan, based in Greenwich, Connecticut, in a telephone interview yesterday. “ They are in the throes of trying to retool their organization, and you are going to continue to see that. The pressures are only getting greater on the industry.”

The world’s biggest drugmakers have eliminated or announced plans to cut more than 59,000 jobs since 2005. The companies are bracing for generic copies of brand-name medicines with annual sales of $84 billion, due by 2012. Merck & Co. said today its 2009 profit will be $3.15 to $3.30 a share, excluding costs of cutting 7,200 jobs, disappointing analysts and investors.

Pfizer fell 35 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $16.27 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares sank 28 percent this year.

Pfizer’s Comment

Pfizer continually reviews ways to reduce spending, said Ray Kerins, a company spokesman, who wouldn’t comment on details.

“Given the current challenging macroeconomic environment, as well as the dynamics of our industry and the challenges we face with the loss of exclusivity of key products, head count reductions continue to be a reality in our business today,” Kerins said in a statement today. “Going forward, we will continue to look for ways to operate the company more efficiently.”

Kindler also is working to increase Pfizer’s drug sales in developing countries with a growing middle class, led by China and India, and to speed the development of new products.

Pfizer’s sales and marketing departments remain too large to be efficient, analysts said. Pfizer chopped 20 percent of its sales force in 2006, becoming the first major drugmaker to scale back selling. GlaxoSmithKline Plc, of London, has since reduced 1,000 sales jobs; Merck & Co., of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, eliminated 1,200; and Schering-Plough Corp., of Kenilworth, New Jersey, cut 1,000.

More Cuts

Drugmakers need to trim sales staffs by an additional 25 percent over the next five to seven years, said Jaideep Bajaj, managing director at marketing consulting firm ZS Associates in a telephone interview Nov. 14. Those sales representatives visit doctors, bringing free samples and brand-imprinted office supplies and catered lunches.

The total U.S. pharmaceutical sales force has doubled in the last seven years while the number of doctors has grown just 15 percent, according to a report by ZS Associates, based in Princeton, New Jersey. As a result, some medical offices get visits from more than 20 drug company representatives daily, the report said.

Drugmakers typically begin firing people a year or two before a product loses patent protection, or after a major flop, Bajaj said.

Exubera, Chantix

While Pfizer has been firing workers over the last two years, several of the company’s products have performed worse than expected. Pfizer dropped its inhaled insulin Exubera in October 2007 after doctors and patients shunned it. U.S. sales of quit-smoking pill Chantix fell by 49 percent in the third quarter after regulators warned it could increase the risk of suicide. Pfizer once expected annual sales of each to top $1 billion.

Pfizer has also had several research flops this year. It halted an experimental obesity drug last month that could have produced more than $500 million in annual sales and in September withdrew an application to sell the antibiotic dalbacancin. It also ended development of a drug for advanced skin cancer in April.

“Until they get their cost structure in line with their future revenue, they are going to have to either continue to grow revenue or cut costs,” said Funtleyder, who is based in New York, in a telephone interview. “Looking out past Lipitor, I don’t think the cost structure is in line. It would appear there is more to go there.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in New York at spettypiece@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 4, 2008 16:33 EST

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Ian confirmed today @ 235 that cutbacks @ Pfizer are solid. Announcement will
come January 26, 2009. Ian is in the process of putting together a letter/video
that speaks to the cutback. Twenty-five percent across the board, except DM's
where the slashing will be as high as 40-50% depending on area. Watch for more
info to come.

Good luck and Happy Holidays from Pfizer!

Proof Please.... Yes, I've seen the Bloomberg article. Did we really think this thing would be small and transparent??

Pfizer May Have Wave of Firings Amid Generic Threat (Update1)
Email | Print | A A A

By Shannon Pettypiece

Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Pfizer Inc., the world’s biggest drugmaker, may announce new job cuts by the end of next month as it works to curb spending before cheaper copies of its top- selling drug Lipitor flood the market.

The company, based in New York, is expected to fire workers in sales and marketing and will probably announce its plans in January along with its 2009 earnings forecast, said Barbara Ryan, a Deutsche Bank analyst, and Les Funtleyder, a health-care analyst at Miller Tabak & Co.

Pfizer has slashed 14,000 jobs since January 2007, when Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Kindler announced a plan to trim spending by as much as $2 billion by the end of this year. Pfizer now needs to cut even deeper because it doesn’t have enough products in development to offset the more than $12 billion in revenue it will start losing in November 2011, when generic copies of Lipitor, a cholesterol pill, go on sale, the analysts said.

“Pfizer will continue to reduce costs along with head count,” said Ryan, based in Greenwich, Connecticut, in a telephone interview yesterday. “ They are in the throes of trying to retool their organization, and you are going to continue to see that. The pressures are only getting greater on the industry.”

The world’s biggest drugmakers have eliminated or announced plans to cut more than 59,000 jobs since 2005. The companies are bracing for generic copies of brand-name medicines with annual sales of $84 billion, due by 2012. Merck & Co. said today its 2009 profit will be $3.15 to $3.30 a share, excluding costs of cutting 7,200 jobs, disappointing analysts and investors.

Pfizer fell 35 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $16.27 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares sank 28 percent this year.

Pfizer’s Comment

Pfizer continually reviews ways to reduce spending, said Ray Kerins, a company spokesman, who wouldn’t comment on details.

“Given the current challenging macroeconomic environment, as well as the dynamics of our industry and the challenges we face with the loss of exclusivity of key products, head count reductions continue to be a reality in our business today,” Kerins said in a statement today. “Going forward, we will continue to look for ways to operate the company more efficiently.”

Kindler also is working to increase Pfizer’s drug sales in developing countries with a growing middle class, led by China and India, and to speed the development of new products.

Pfizer’s sales and marketing departments remain too large to be efficient, analysts said. Pfizer chopped 20 percent of its sales force in 2006, becoming the first major drugmaker to scale back selling. GlaxoSmithKline Plc, of London, has since reduced 1,000 sales jobs; Merck & Co., of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, eliminated 1,200; and Schering-Plough Corp., of Kenilworth, New Jersey, cut 1,000.

More Cuts

Drugmakers need to trim sales staffs by an additional 25 percent over the next five to seven years, said Jaideep Bajaj, managing director at marketing consulting firm ZS Associates in a telephone interview Nov. 14. Those sales representatives visit doctors, bringing free samples and brand-imprinted office supplies and catered lunches.

The total U.S. pharmaceutical sales force has doubled in the last seven years while the number of doctors has grown just 15 percent, according to a report by ZS Associates, based in Princeton, New Jersey. As a result, some medical offices get visits from more than 20 drug company representatives daily, the report said.

Drugmakers typically begin firing people a year or two before a product loses patent protection, or after a major flop, Bajaj said.

Exubera, Chantix

While Pfizer has been firing workers over the last two years, several of the company’s products have performed worse than expected. Pfizer dropped its inhaled insulin Exubera in October 2007 after doctors and patients shunned it. U.S. sales of quit-smoking pill Chantix fell by 49 percent in the third quarter after regulators warned it could increase the risk of suicide. Pfizer once expected annual sales of each to top $1 billion.

Pfizer has also had several research flops this year. It halted an experimental obesity drug last month that could have produced more than $500 million in annual sales and in September withdrew an application to sell the antibiotic dalbacancin. It also ended development of a drug for advanced skin cancer in April.

“Until they get their cost structure in line with their future revenue, they are going to have to either continue to grow revenue or cut costs,” said Funtleyder, who is based in New York, in a telephone interview. “Looking out past Lipitor, I don’t think the cost structure is in line. It would appear there is more to go there.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in New York at spettypiece@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 4, 2008 16:33 EST

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Obviously I failed in relaying my message since you were both offended. It was not meant to be funny nor do I tell my children I may be severed, although I truly want out. But that's besides the point. Please read it again and hopefully you will realize I was trying to make an attempt to state how sad this whole thing is for all of us and our families. I apologize if I have offended you. It was simply my way of stating how cruel he has been to all. My apologies.

you are forgiven. i still need you name to make sure you are severed.

thanks again,

Jeff K

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear "Tuffy Pants Big Talker,"

Your wish will be granted if you would just give me your name.

Thanks,

Jeff K.

Actually, in a quote 2 steps down, I offered my apologies to you and the other person who posted. It was not meant to be funny. It was actually an attempt at voicing my feelings on how he has ruined just another year for us and our families. We have had several cuts in the last fews years. Not only are they hard on us as individuals, they always fall around Christmas making it that much more stressful for our families. Only this time he has made it even harder on us by withholding information. Putting that aside, I do plan on leaving the industry given its instability; however, I am waiting until they make their final decision. I don't want to jump the gun and possibly miss out on the package. I have put in way too many years. My reason for stating that I wanted to be severed? I would rather see someone else who truly wants and needs this job have it, rather than me. Trust me, I was not trying to act like "Tuffy Pants Big Talker". Once again, my apologies if I offended you. Again, not trying to be funny but I am so feed up with the BS, that I wish he would call me this evening and just cut me already.

I agree with everything you are saying. Just 6 months ago Kindler was saying there are no more cuts coming....huh???

This is crap. I will tell you that unless you have another 6 figure job already lined up, you dont want to get cut. Things are bad. Our church has had SO many people lose their jobs and its just crazy times. I really have low expectations of Pfizer right now...the only thing they will do RIGHT, will be the packages...(if they have not changed them) but even then, its not going to last you long.

Good luck.

Pfizer should have gotten rid of loser DM's years ago. Look at NYS.... Ed Dollar and Billy boy Barto and others just to name a few. These DM's don't know how to lead or to manage but they do know how to intimidate and threaten their reps. It's about time they got what they deserved.... that would be severed. They think they know how to sell. They don't know anything lot alone build relationships, they sell by intimidation forcing their way into Docs offices. Being in the docs face..... that doesn't fly anywhere. Docs, nurses are SICK of reps who think they are entitled. people skills, not with these two nut cases.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Obviously I failed in relaying my message since you were both offended. It was not meant to be funny nor do I tell my children I may be severed, although I truly want out. But that's besides the point. Please read it again and hopefully you will realize I was trying to make an attempt to state how sad this whole thing is for all of us and our families. I apologize if I have offended you. It was simply my way of stating how cruel he has been to all. My apologies.

You have nothing to apologize for.

Bless her little heart.

This has been a rough one on you folks and I feel for all of you. It's not like you can just get another comparable job within six months anymore. I know that many of you are waiting to see if you get the package. However, if you have been with the company less than 5 years, I would really be trying hard to find a job as quick as you can to avoid the massive lines next year.

I don't mean to sound gloom and doom but 2009 is going to be a rough year. For some of you, the severance will last about a year....you'll need it.
If your severance is less than six months, I would really be working to find another job ASAP and not dwell on the severance. Your best scenerio of course would be able to synchronize the severance and a new job. But it could take months and even years to find a comparable position.

I have pretty much come to the conclusion that those who get a long with their DM's will be spared and those that don't are doomed. That's just the way it is at Pfizer and with other companies who have more than one rep in charge of the same product and revenue stream. You really don't know who is actually making an impact on physicians writing....for all the DM knows it could be the rep who calls on him the least and has better selling/relationship skills. However, the other rep has a better R2 report and higher signature average making the DM look better. It's a silly system.

Good luck everyone, I went through this a couple of years ago. It took me about nine months to find a job that paid six figures. I had to take a job that paid in the 40's before I found my current position. Be prepared to do the same. Sometimes you have to just take something in order to survive.

God Bless and try to enjoy the Holidays with your family!

Single belles single bells
the only ones who'll stay
He'll blow his lid and crush the kid
with pink slips and no pay, hey

Single belles single belles
they go all the way
dropping panties in the hall
to get a script today,

o'er the field he'll go
laughing all the day
drawing straws for all
to see who goes away

Belles make sales he thinks
so they won't get pinks
unless of course if they have kids
You know that really stinks , hey

Single belles single bells
singles all will stay
If you're a mom then you are out
but you'll get severance pay,


Merry Christmas Tiny Tim.

[Cloakst]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear "Tuffy Pants Big Talker,"

Your wish will be granted if you would just give me your name.

Thanks,

Jeff K.

Hey Jeff,

No wonder Pfizer sucks, you can't even see the humor or message in the single woman's email. She's trying to make a point not whining. Geez, how F-ing stupid are you? If you can't see the message she's trying to convey, then please resign from Pfizer and go peddle the junk you were peddling before coming to Pfizer!

[Cloakst]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

so... you actually tell your children that you are about to be severed? that is great parenting... are you actually trying to make your kids grow up faster than they already are? idiot.

Great, so you too couldn't understand the single mon's message. Actually, you're the idiot!

You should be let go for 2 reasons:

1. The single mother has more back bone
2. You're an idiot who doesn't understand written words.

[Cloakst]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

you are forgiven. i still need you name to make sure you are severed.

thanks again,

Jeff K

Hey Jeff,

Don't think the single Mom needs to apologize for your lack of intelligence. Actually, you should be severed for failing to understand the meaning in written words (lack of imagination).

Since you take things literally as written, why don't you apologize to all of us for embarrasing yourself on this board and ruining the company and then do the honorable thing with a pistol and ball.

[Cloakst]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Obviously I failed in relaying my message since you were both offended. It was not meant to be funny nor do I tell my children I may be severed, although I truly want out. But that's besides the point. Please read it again and hopefully you will realize I was trying to make an attempt to state how sad this whole thing is for all of us and our families. I apologize if I have offended you. It was simply my way of stating how cruel he has been to all. My apologies.

I understood your message for your intended purpose. Don't be too quick to apologize to those who only read on the basic level--those two are dim wits who should be severed with all of the driftwood in Pfizer. The layoffs should be used in a good way to get rid of Mr. Jeff and his Dork above--what a pair of blockheads.

I hope you survive all this, because Pfizer will need people of your character to move forward.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear Mr. Kindler,

I have been a loyal Pfizer rep for many years and have always held my head high even during tough times. I have worked hard and put in many hours past 5:00 PM, when you consider Speaker Programs and administrative work. All at the expense of my family. My numbers and evaluations were above expectations. I have put my all into this job and now ask for one thing in return. May I please be severed during THIS layoff. If at all possible, please cut me as of today so that I can go on with my life and make future plans. My family would also like to thank you for prolonging the decision making process. My youngest child has been so worried AGAIN this year about her single Mommy not having a job and she is worried we won't have enough to eat. She doesn't care about any Christmas gifts, she just wants her Mommy to be happy again. If you would announce your intentions today, we may actually able to enjoy at least THIS year's holiday, since so many have been ruined in the prior years. Please call me at home this evening with a positive response to my request. I will be waiting patiently by the phone and look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Feed Up

I am truly sorry. As a fellow rep, I totally understand how you feel.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

This is right on! Florida meeting says Jan. 26 timeframe,
DM's highest percent to get slashed. Pfizer is sheding many,
many, DM's---what a worthless lot!

what?

you mean I can't show up 45 min late - eat a big breakfast until 10:15 - piss off a couple docs - go to lunch at Ruth's Chris and eat filet mignon for two hours -
piss of another doc - go to Starbuck's get a coffee and take a big shit - have your drive me back to my car while I tell you you need to "close harder" and leave

(I like to be home by 3:00 PM so I can catch a nap before dinner)

I wrote the Dear Mr. Kindler letter. I am going to ask that you please not attack those who may have misunderstood it at first glance. I can understand how they did. Possibly I phrased it incorrectly or it was simply bad timing. Please direct any negative quotes towards me since I posted it. We are all so stressed out do the to lack of information and what is real information.. I can see were it was easy to think I was whiner or misread it at first glance. Once again my apologies and frankly, I would love to stab him in the neck.

Once again, signed
Ms. FEED UP

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear Mr. Kindler,

I have been a loyal Pfizer rep for many years and have always held my head high even during tough times. I have worked hard and put in many hours past 5:00 PM, when you consider Speaker Programs and administrative work. All at the expense of my family. My numbers and evaluations were above expectations. I have put my all into this job and now ask for one thing in return. May I please be severed during THIS layoff. If at all possible, please cut me as of today so that I can go on with my life and make future plans. My family would also like to thank you for prolonging the decision making process. My youngest child has been so worried AGAIN this year about her single Mommy not having a job and she is worried we won't have enough to eat. She doesn't care about any Christmas gifts, she just wants her Mommy to be happy again. If you would announce your intentions today, we may actually able to enjoy at least THIS year's holiday, since so many have been ruined in the prior years. Please call me at home this evening with a positive response to my request. I will be waiting patiently by the phone and look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Feed Up

I totally understand how you feel. Here is a great way to NOT get fired and leave on your own terms. Worked for me. Since your so stressed out, get a note from your doctor stating you're too stressed out to work. Say your having a nervous breakdown. The doc will fill out a form and say your not fit to go back to work. You'll have to get a note from your doc every month, but it's worth it. They can't fire/lay you off during this time, even if you are on plan. During this time you can stop stressing, look for another job and say Fuck You to Pfizer. I did this during the last layoffs. I was out four months on their dime and found a better job . AND YES, I really did this and got paid to look for another job.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

...then get on with your life. Don't let Pfizer dictate what you do with your life.
Pfizer's responsibility is to operate as a profitable business. Your responsibility is to provide a living for your family, with or without Pfizer.

Be grateful they're going to give you a wonderful severence and stop your whining.

Is this Mr Kindler speaking? May I suggest that you get on with your life and stop whining. I am certain that you have posted some negative reviews of Pfizer and how they have handled this situation. Tell me you haven't felt the fear. As for my package should I get cut. Do you know how I will fare? Some of us have not been around along enough to have that two year cut off, which may mean only six months or so of severence, maybe even less. With the job market the way it is, how easy is it for those of us who get cut to find another job, especially at the salaries we have now? Please share your back up plan, so that I may obtain some of ideas as how to pay my mortgage, etc.

I

Originally Posted by Anonymous

...then get on with your life. Don't let Pfizer dictate what you do with your life.
Pfizer's responsibility is to operate as a profitable business. Your responsibility is to provide a living for your family, with or without Pfizer.

Be grateful they're going to give you a wonderful severence and stop your whining.

I agreed with your quote to a point and then you had the nerve to tell her to stop her whining. You are an idiot. How many of us do you think feel exactly the same way? Wonderful severence package my ass. Wouldn't you rather have a job. How are your going to take care of your family without one? You must be a management plant. Is this my DM, RM or maybe Jeff himself speaking? "Pfizer's responsibility is to operate a profitable business". Yes, that's true but just look at how disrespectfully they treat their employees and all their lies. Think about how management and not the reps ran this company into the ground. Think about how much he makes and do you really think he gives a shit about you?

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Pfizer May Have Wave of Firings Amid Generic Threat (Update1)
Email | Print | A A A

By Shannon Pettypiece

Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Pfizer Inc., the world’s biggest drugmaker, may announce new job cuts by the end of next month as it works to curb spending before cheaper copies of its top- selling drug Lipitor flood the market.

The company, based in New York, is expected to fire workers in sales and marketing and will probably announce its plans in January along with its 2009 earnings forecast, said Barbara Ryan, a Deutsche Bank analyst, and Les Funtleyder, a health-care analyst at Miller Tabak & Co.

Pfizer has slashed 14,000 jobs since January 2007, when Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Kindler announced a plan to trim spending by as much as $2 billion by the end of this year. Pfizer now needs to cut even deeper because it doesn’t have enough products in development to offset the more than $12 billion in revenue it will start losing in November 2011, when generic copies of Lipitor, a cholesterol pill, go on sale, the analysts said.

“Pfizer will continue to reduce costs along with head count,” said Ryan, based in Greenwich, Connecticut, in a telephone interview yesterday. “ They are in the throes of trying to retool their organization, and you are going to continue to see that. The pressures are only getting greater on the industry.”

The world’s biggest drugmakers have eliminated or announced plans to cut more than 59,000 jobs since 2005. The companies are bracing for generic copies of brand-name medicines with annual sales of $84 billion, due by 2012. Merck & Co. said today its 2009 profit will be $3.15 to $3.30 a share, excluding costs of cutting 7,200 jobs, disappointing analysts and investors.

Pfizer fell 35 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $16.27 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares sank 28 percent this year.

Pfizer’s Comment

Pfizer continually reviews ways to reduce spending, said Ray Kerins, a company spokesman, who wouldn’t comment on details.

“Given the current challenging macroeconomic environment, as well as the dynamics of our industry and the challenges we face with the loss of exclusivity of key products, head count reductions continue to be a reality in our business today,” Kerins said in a statement today. “Going forward, we will continue to look for ways to operate the company more efficiently.”

Kindler also is working to increase Pfizer’s drug sales in developing countries with a growing middle class, led by China and India, and to speed the development of new products.

Pfizer’s sales and marketing departments remain too large to be efficient, analysts said. Pfizer chopped 20 percent of its sales force in 2006, becoming the first major drugmaker to scale back selling. GlaxoSmithKline Plc, of London, has since reduced 1,000 sales jobs; Merck & Co., of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, eliminated 1,200; and Schering-Plough Corp., of Kenilworth, New Jersey, cut 1,000.

More Cuts

Drugmakers need to trim sales staffs by an additional 25 percent over the next five to seven years, said Jaideep Bajaj, managing director at marketing consulting firm ZS Associates in a telephone interview Nov. 14. Those sales representatives visit doctors, bringing free samples and brand-imprinted office supplies and catered lunches.

The total U.S. pharmaceutical sales force has doubled in the last seven years while the number of doctors has grown just 15 percent, according to a report by ZS Associates, based in Princeton, New Jersey. As a result, some medical offices get visits from more than 20 drug company representatives daily, the report said.

Drugmakers typically begin firing people a year or two before a product loses patent protection, or after a major flop, Bajaj said.

Exubera, Chantix

While Pfizer has been firing workers over the last two years, several of the company’s products have performed worse than expected. Pfizer dropped its inhaled insulin Exubera in October 2007 after doctors and patients shunned it. U.S. sales of quit-smoking pill Chantix fell by 49 percent in the third quarter after regulators warned it could increase the risk of suicide. Pfizer once expected annual sales of each to top $1 billion.

Pfizer has also had several research flops this year. It halted an experimental obesity drug last month that could have produced more than $500 million in annual sales and in September withdrew an application to sell the antibiotic dalbacancin. It also ended development of a drug for advanced skin cancer in April.

“Until they get their cost structure in line with their future revenue, they are going to have to either continue to grow revenue or cut costs,” said Funtleyder, who is based in New York, in a telephone interview. “Looking out past Lipitor, I don’t think the cost structure is in line. It would appear there is more to go there.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in New York at spettypiece@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 4, 2008 16:33 EST

Hey Pfizer Pfucks! Here is your proof, still in denial?
Will you hear about it on Pfieldnet?

Pfizer is a sinking ship a stinking cesspool of kiss-ass brown-nosing
DM fuck-heads...let them be the first to go!

Rockstars Rule!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Ian confirmed today @ 235 that cutbacks @ Pfizer are solid. Announcement will
come January 26, 2009. Ian is in the process of putting together a letter/video
that speaks to the cutback. Twenty-five percent across the board, except DM's
where the slashing will be as high as 40-50% depending on area. Watch for more
info to come.

Good luck and Happy Holidays from Pfizer!

It is official! Smile and wave boys...

Rockstars Rule!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Ian confirmed today @ 235 that cutbacks @ Pfizer are solid. Announcement will
come January 26, 2009. Ian is in the process of putting together a letter/video
that speaks to the cutback. Twenty-five percent across the board, except DM's
where the slashing will be as high as 40-50% depending on area. Watch for more
info to come.

Good luck and Happy Holidays from Pfizer!

Thanks Pfizer!
How do you'all like them apples?

The gig is up folks.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Obviously I failed in relaying my message since you were both offended. It was not meant to be funny nor do I tell my children I may be severed, although I truly want out. But that's besides the point. Please read it again and hopefully you will realize I was trying to make an attempt to state how sad this whole thing is for all of us and our families. I apologize if I have offended you. It was simply my way of stating how cruel he has been to all. My apologies.

Who apologizes for offending anyone in CP????

Now I know you're nuts.

Everything about this site is pretty much offensive. Its free speech in the raw. No need to apologize here.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

I agree with everything you are saying. Just 6 months ago Kindler was saying there are no more cuts coming....huh???

This is crap. I will tell you that unless you have another 6 figure job already lined up, you dont want to get cut. Things are bad. Our church has had SO many people lose their jobs and its just crazy times. I really have low expectations of Pfizer right now...the only thing they will do RIGHT, will be the packages...(if they have not changed them) but even then, its not going to last you long.

Good luck.

Attending a Church/Synagogue/etc connects you to the larger community and you can see when things are getting good or bad usually before the news media or politicians pick up on it. I know because I've seen the same thing. Getting laid off now, even with a nice severance, will totally suck because the economy is truly in the gutter now.

If it takes them 6 months to make an announcement, I'll wait and be glad I have a job in the meantime.

At the same time, save as much as you can, pay off as much debt as possible and develop your network now.

its quite simple- take a company with $45B, shave off 1/3 sales with lipitor and other patent loss and you need to shave off 1/3 costs or more to survive. the failure in development means the company has to get smaller or everyone will lose their job as PFE goes under to be taken over or broken apart. the issue is not at the top with the why but those closer with who

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Hey Pfizer Pfucks! Here is your proof, still in denial?
Will you hear about it on Pfieldnet?

Pfizer is a sinking ship a stinking cesspool of kiss-ass brown-nosing
DM fuck-heads...let them be the first to go!

Rockstars Rule!

This is FACT! You Rockstars are right on ! Rockstar mtg. in KC. ?

Pfizer has to hate you people!

The new BU's will be bitesize packages ready to be sold off, this looks like a step by step GE-style strategy.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

The new BU's will be bitesize packages ready to be sold off, this looks like a step by step GE-style strategy.

Interesting you should say that. While it's not new to the board, I can't help but wonder if that is there ultimate goal. Another example is ATT. Remember when they ruled, only to be sold off in bits and pieces.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Interesting you should say that. While it's not new to the board, I can't help but wonder if that is there ultimate goal. Another example is ATT. Remember when they ruled, only to be sold off in bits and pieces.

Just what would be sold off in pieces? Wild Bill, Hank and Biff already sold off the valuable pieces (Consumer, Howmedica and everything other than Pharma in the last decade plus). What would the possible suitor possibly want, our revolutionary "new" RBU structure? Nah, you can get that from any number of Consulting companies. It must be our vaunted pipeline? Nah, that hasn't delivered much in the way of current or future value. I got it, it's must be our stellar active compounds? Oops, it's 2008 not 1998 and they'll be LOE in the next few years.

Let's face it, PFE is run by an ET that has a lawyer at the helm and a finance guy who made his bones putting lipstick on a pig (Lucent) and had the good fortune that Alcatel was desperate enough to roll the dice after ~70% reduction in staff @ Lucent. Unfortunately for stake holders ALU is now trading in junk bond status range. Luckily for PFE, the Board of Directors is ready and waiting to rubber stamp any and all re-structuring plans that come down the pike regardless of due diligence and/or viability.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Who apologizes for offending anyone in CP????

Now I know you're nuts.

Everything about this site is pretty much offensive. Its free speech in the raw. No need to apologize here.

I chose to apologize, since I don't feel a need to offend others intentionally or otherwise. If that makes me nuts, then so be it. As you stated, its all about free speech.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear Mr. Kindler,

I have been a loyal Pfizer rep for many years and have always held my head high even during tough times. I have worked hard and put in many hours past 5:00 PM, when you consider Speaker Programs and administrative work. All at the expense of my family. My numbers and evaluations were above expectations. I have put my all into this job and now ask for one thing in return. May I please be severed during THIS layoff. If at all possible, please cut me as of today so that I can go on with my life and make future plans. My family would also like to thank you for prolonging the decision making process. My youngest child has been so worried AGAIN this year about her single Mommy not having a job and she is worried we won't have enough to eat. She doesn't care about any Christmas gifts, she just wants her Mommy to be happy again. If you would announce your intentions today, we may actually able to enjoy at least THIS year's holiday, since so many have been ruined in the prior years. Please call me at home this evening with a positive response to my request. I will be waiting patiently by the phone and look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Feed Up

Dear MS. Fucked Up,

Give your two weeks notice on Monday. You should be sleeping well by Christmas and happy knowing you have left this horrible company. Enjoy!

JK

Couldn't happen to a better bunch of people...

I guess everybody is just "Feed Up"! Especially the bottom " feeders". Did you people really think that a job with a free car, free gas, free insurance, free time that pays around 100K would last forever? Remember the day, you drove past some workers in the field and thought, "wow, I really have it made". Or the day, you yelled at your housekeeper for not cleaning the dust off the crown molding in your bathroom. How about when you called the office receptionist a witch, under your breathe, or the day you yelled at the caterer who forgot the Ice. How about the day you threw your counterpart under the bus who is now is the manager of a company you would like to get on board with. Now do some of you people GET IT??

Now for the first time many of you will find out what REAL WORK is all about. Welcome to The Real World.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear MS. Fucked Up,

Give your two weeks notice on Monday. You should be sleeping well by Christmas and happy knowing you have left this horrible company. Enjoy!

JK

Dear JK,

While I thank you for the advice, there is no reason to insult me. I found it both vulgar and offensive. Now I think it is your turn to apologize to me. If I remember correctly, it was I who defended you when you were under attack. Have a Happy Holiday!

Respectfully,

Ms. Feed-up

Originally Posted by Anonymous

I guess everybody is just "Feed Up"! Especially the bottom " feeders". Did you people really think that a job with a free car, free gas, free insurance, free time that pays around 100K would last forever? Remember the day, you drove past some workers in the field and thought, "wow, I really have it made". Or the day, you yelled at your housekeeper for not cleaning the dust off the crown molding in your bathroom. How about when you called the office receptionist a witch, under your breathe, or the day you yelled at the caterer who forgot the Ice. How about the day you threw your counterpart under the bus who is now is the manager of a company you would like to get on board with. Now do some of you people GET IT??

Now for the first time many of you will find out what REAL WORK is all about. Welcome to The Real World.

I think I would rather find out what "real work" is then to stay with such an unstable company with a cruel CEO in an unstable industry, even if does mean I would make less then the 100K you reference. Personally, peace of mind and stability is worth a great deal more to me. Do you enjoy worrying each year if you will have a job or not? I believe this has been going on for 5 years now. Think about your fate again next year? Will there be another layoff? Pfizer has to continue to make cuts to survive, especially when Lipitor goes generic. This has been stated in several financial articles. Your 100K a year may soon be a thing of the past. The Consulting Firm they hired called us nothing but sample droppers and caterers. Question for you. Bottom Feeder's, is that the definition of some one who calls a receptionist a witch, yells at the caterer for forgetting the ice, and throwing people under the bus? Are you a Bottom Feeder? Just asking? Have Happy Holiday Bottom Feeder.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

The new BU's will be bitesize packages ready to be sold off, this looks like a step by step GE-style strategy.

The sole purpose of the new RBUs is for PFE to be able to align financial resources to and to be better able to track the dollars budgeted to those RBUs and products associated to them. It allows for better accountability for expenses and PFE can hold the leaders more accountable etc. This process is not new to large companies across america.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

I guess everybody is just "Feed Up"! Especially the bottom " feeders". Did you people really think that a job with a free car, free gas, free insurance, free time that pays around 100K would last forever? Remember the day, you drove past some workers in the field and thought, "wow, I really have it made". Or the day, you yelled at your housekeeper for not cleaning the dust off the crown molding in your bathroom. How about when you called the office receptionist a witch, under your breathe, or the day you yelled at the caterer who forgot the Ice. How about the day you threw your counterpart under the bus who is now is the manager of a company you would like to get on board with. Now do some of you people GET IT??

Now for the first time many of you will find out what REAL WORK is all about. Welcome to The Real World.

Folks Pfizer has turned to SHIT for many reasons...mostly because the culture went to crap, tattletales, dumbshit DM's and hiring reps that really are not SALESPEOPLE!

Many of you especially DM's will have a hard time in the real-world...the real salespeople will do fine! Pfizer is Pfucked!

Rockstars RULE!

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Pfizer May Have Wave of Firings Amid Generic Threat (Update1)
Email | Print | A A A

By Shannon Pettypiece

Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Pfizer Inc., the world’s biggest drugmaker, may announce new job cuts by the end of next month as it works to curb spending before cheaper copies of its top- selling drug Lipitor flood the market.

The company, based in New York, is expected to fire workers in sales and marketing and will probably announce its plans in January along with its 2009 earnings forecast, said Barbara Ryan, a Deutsche Bank analyst, and Les Funtleyder, a health-care analyst at Miller Tabak & Co.

Pfizer has slashed 14,000 jobs since January 2007, when Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Kindler announced a plan to trim spending by as much as $2 billion by the end of this year. Pfizer now needs to cut even deeper because it doesn’t have enough products in development to offset the more than $12 billion in revenue it will start losing in November 2011, when generic copies of Lipitor, a cholesterol pill, go on sale, the analysts said.

“Pfizer will continue to reduce costs along with head count,” said Ryan, based in Greenwich, Connecticut, in a telephone interview yesterday. “ They are in the throes of trying to retool their organization, and you are going to continue to see that. The pressures are only getting greater on the industry.”

The world’s biggest drugmakers have eliminated or announced plans to cut more than 59,000 jobs since 2005. The companies are bracing for generic copies of brand-name medicines with annual sales of $84 billion, due by 2012. Merck & Co. said today its 2009 profit will be $3.15 to $3.30 a share, excluding costs of cutting 7,200 jobs, disappointing analysts and investors.

Pfizer fell 35 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $16.27 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares sank 28 percent this year.

Pfizer’s Comment

Pfizer continually reviews ways to reduce spending, said Ray Kerins, a company spokesman, who wouldn’t comment on details.

“Given the current challenging macroeconomic environment, as well as the dynamics of our industry and the challenges we face with the loss of exclusivity of key products, head count reductions continue to be a reality in our business today,” Kerins said in a statement today. “Going forward, we will continue to look for ways to operate the company more efficiently.”

Kindler also is working to increase Pfizer’s drug sales in developing countries with a growing middle class, led by China and India, and to speed the development of new products.

Pfizer’s sales and marketing departments remain too large to be efficient, analysts said. Pfizer chopped 20 percent of its sales force in 2006, becoming the first major drugmaker to scale back selling. GlaxoSmithKline Plc, of London, has since reduced 1,000 sales jobs; Merck & Co., of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, eliminated 1,200; and Schering-Plough Corp., of Kenilworth, New Jersey, cut 1,000.

More Cuts

Drugmakers need to trim sales staffs by an additional 25 percent over the next five to seven years, said Jaideep Bajaj, managing director at marketing consulting firm ZS Associates in a telephone interview Nov. 14. Those sales representatives visit doctors, bringing free samples and brand-imprinted office supplies and catered lunches.

The total U.S. pharmaceutical sales force has doubled in the last seven years while the number of doctors has grown just 15 percent, according to a report by ZS Associates, based in Princeton, New Jersey. As a result, some medical offices get visits from more than 20 drug company representatives daily, the report said.

Drugmakers typically begin firing people a year or two before a product loses patent protection, or after a major flop, Bajaj said.

Exubera, Chantix

While Pfizer has been firing workers over the last two years, several of the company’s products have performed worse than expected. Pfizer dropped its inhaled insulin Exubera in October 2007 after doctors and patients shunned it. U.S. sales of quit-smoking pill Chantix fell by 49 percent in the third quarter after regulators warned it could increase the risk of suicide. Pfizer once expected annual sales of each to top $1 billion.

Pfizer has also had several research flops this year. It halted an experimental obesity drug last month that could have produced more than $500 million in annual sales and in September withdrew an application to sell the antibiotic dalbacancin. It also ended development of a drug for advanced skin cancer in April.

“Until they get their cost structure in line with their future revenue, they are going to have to either continue to grow revenue or cut costs,” said Funtleyder, who is based in New York, in a telephone interview. “Looking out past Lipitor, I don’t think the cost structure is in line. It would appear there is more to go there.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in New York at spettypiece@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 4, 2008 16:33 EST

Good read! Rockstars Rule!

[Loki]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Folks Pfizer has turned to SHIT for many reasons...mostly because the culture went to crap, tattletales, dumbshit DM's and hiring reps that really are not SALESPEOPLE!

Many of you especially DM's will have a hard time in the real-world...the real salespeople will do fine! Pfizer is Pfucked!

Rockstars RULE!

Was expecting you to return somewhat closer to Halloween. Pfizer does look light GM, doesn't it? Too many worker bees in a shrinking bee hive.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Folks Pfizer has turned to SHIT for many reasons...mostly because the culture went to crap, tattletales, dumbshit DM's and hiring reps that really are not SALESPEOPLE!

Many of you especially DM's will have a hard time in the real-world...the real salespeople will do fine! Pfizer is Pfucked!

Rockstars RULE!

You are so right that Pfizer hired so many reps that did not have the qualification to be in sales and promoted them after a few years on top opf that. Many were fresh right out college. I joined Pfizer 10 years ago at the age of 33 with prior experience in sales and management. I have seen many DMs who never managed "people" and Pfizer in the only job they ever have. Many became great DMs and many were not so great. It come down to "you get what you pay for." Pfizer wants to cut cost by paying for cheaper labor and get rid of higher pay experienced reps and look at the performance of the company. The new pfizer does not believe in investing and retaining their intellectual property which is their employees. Pfizer can't just focus solely on "the bottom line" because that only works short-term or may be that's how CEO thinks. Their contract is for a feww years and then they move on while the employees are here and would like to stay for long-term growth with the company.

[Cloakst]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

Dear MS. Fucked Up,

Give your two weeks notice on Monday. You should be sleeping well by Christmas and happy knowing you have left this horrible company. Enjoy!

JK

Hey JK,

Actually, I think you're the FK-ed up one here. I'd consider it a gift to all of us if you resigned on Monday. You've done no good and are quite an annoying human being--you need to know this.

Please, just go away JK----far away.

Originally Posted by Anonymous

You are so right that Pfizer hired so many reps that did not have the qualification to be in sales and promoted them after a few years on top opf that. Many were fresh right out college. I joined Pfizer 10 years ago at the age of 33 with prior experience in sales and management. I have seen many DMs who never managed "people" and Pfizer in the only job they ever have. Many became great DMs and many were not so great. It come down to "you get what you pay for." Pfizer wants to cut cost by paying for cheaper labor and get rid of higher pay experienced reps and look at the performance of the company. The new pfizer does not believe in investing and retaining their intellectual property which is their employees. Pfizer can't just focus solely on "the bottom line" because that only works short-term or may be that's how CEO thinks. Their contract is for a feww years and then they move on while the employees are here and would like to stay for long-term growth with the company.

Great analogy! Join the ROCKSTARS!