{"id":198871,"date":"2021-11-08T12:00:08","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=198871"},"modified":"2025-01-10T15:08:25","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T15:08:25","slug":"top-selling-drug-in-the-world-pfizer-covid-vaccine-2021-sales-36-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2021\/11\/top-selling-drug-in-the-world-pfizer-covid-vaccine-2021-sales-36-billion\/","title":{"rendered":"Top-Selling Drug in the World\u2014Pfizer COVID Vaccine 2021 Sales: $36 Billion"},"content":{"rendered":"

3 Nov 2021 – In a call with analysts yesterday, the same day the Centers for Disease Control Prevention signed off on Emergency Use Authorization of Pfizer\u2019s COVID vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds, Pfizer boosted its 2021 sales forecast from $33.5 billion to $36 billion.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Pfizer expects to earn about $36 billion in revenue<\/a> this year from the COVID vaccine developed with BioNTech, the company announced Tuesday \u2014 an increase from the previous estimate of $33.5 billion.<\/p>\n

Pfizer\u2019s COVID vaccine quickly became the highest-selling drug<\/a> in the world. During an earnings call<\/a>, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the vaccine contributed $13 billion in revenue during the third quarter alone, bringing total revenue this year to $24.3 billion.<\/p>\n

Pfizer said its profit margin<\/a> on the vaccine, before taxes and after splitting profit with BioNTech, is the \u201chigh 20s,\u201d which means vaccine profits could approach $10 billion just for Pfizer this year.<\/p>\n

The sales estimate<\/a> for 2021 is equivalent to roughly 80% of what Pfizer believes the rest of its business will earn in 2021.<\/p>\n

The company forecasted<\/a> $29 billion in sales in 2022, based on 1.7 billion doses<\/a> committed to purchasing contracts. Pfizer said it will manufacture up to 4 billion doses next year, meaning there are 2.3 billion doses it could still sell, Axios reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pfizer shares rose by more than 4%<\/a> in early Tuesday trading on news of the earnings numbers.<\/p>\n

In the U.S. and Europe, Pfizer has benefited from having the first vaccine cleared for booster doses<\/a> and for use in younger adolescents<\/a> and children<\/a>. According to the company, its average market share as of Oct. 31 was 74% in the U.S. and 80% in Europe, up from 56% and 70%, respectively, in April.<\/p>\n

Other rivals such as Moderna<\/a> and Johnson & Johnson<\/a> have faced production snags<\/a>, helping Pfizer extend its lead in signing supply deals with countries.<\/p>\n

Pfizer\u2019s advantage could increase as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized the vaccine for use in children between 5 and 11 years old.<\/p>\n

The earnings call occurred the same day advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) met to discuss giving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine to children ages 5 to 11.<\/p>\n

The CDC\u2019s vaccine advisory panel unanimously recommended<\/a> Pfizer\u2019s COVID vaccine on Tuesday for children 5 to 11, despite concerns raised during the meeting about Pfizer\u2019s clinical data<\/a>, the fact that children who previously acquired natural immunity<\/a> to COVID were included in clinical trials and evidence<\/a> showing COVID poses little risk to children.<\/p>\n

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on the decision<\/a> late Tuesday and children ages 5 through 11 could start receiving COVID vaccines as early as today.<\/p>\n

Pfizer sponsors ads on news networks<\/strong><\/p>\n

As The Defender reported<\/a> Nov. 2, analysts<\/a> in the advertising industry believe a bolstered marketing push will follow now that the FDA has granted full approval<\/a> to a Pfizer COVID vaccine under the name Comirnaty.<\/p>\n

Pfizer\u2019s goal may be long-term in scope: If annual or semi-annual COVID boosters<\/a> become a reality, Pfizer may be gearing up to place its name ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n

According to Pfizer\u2019s most recent quarterly report<\/a>, for the second quarter of 2021, there was a 10% increase in \u201cSI&A expenses,\u201d which include marketing and advertising, for the first half of 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, when there was no COVID vaccine available.<\/p>\n

By \u201csponsoring\u201d television newscasts and information programs, Pfizer may be intending to do more than merely increase vaccination rates: They may wish to influence news coverage by these media, skewing such coverage in their favor in any number of ways.<\/p>\n

Recent examples where Pfizer<\/a> has sponsored prominent television news and information programs on American television include the following:<\/p>\n

\u201cGood \u039corning America is brought to you by Pfizer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCBS HealthWatch, sponsored by Pfizer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnderson Cooper 360\u00b0, brought to you by Pfizer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cABC News Nightline, brought to you by Pfizer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCNN Tonight, brought to you by Pfizer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Well, this is totally normal and not at all a conflict of interest pic.twitter.com\/4MKm0VozBC<\/a><\/p>\n

— Whitney Webb (@_whitneywebb) October 19, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n