Whenever people need medicines to stay healthy or to get well, Pfizer wants to be there. We're in business to discover, develop and deliver new medicines to people across the globe. It's our most important contribution to the world. But we know this alone is not enough. How we do our work matters just as much as what we do. We are committed to using our skills and resources responsibly as we develop solutions for the health care needs of people around the world. While this ongoing work will never be finished, we do pause from time to time to assess our progress. In this spirit, I am pleased to share with you Pfizer's 2009 Corporate Responsibility Report.
Since our last report two years ago, unprecedented and historic economic changes have touched people in every part of the world and in every industry, including our own. The long-term effects of the global economic downturn likely will not be known for some time. But right now, it's clear that millions of people have lost their jobs, their health care, or their savings. And we know that in times like these, people expect more from us than ever before.
Pfizer has remained steadfastly focused on transforming our business, so that we will be better able to serve the needs of people everywhere. Early in 2009, Pfizer announced plans to acquire Wyeth, the fifth-largest biopharmaceutical company in the United States. Together, we will be a diverse and flexible leader in nearly all dimensions of human and animal medicines and vaccines—and a company well positioned to deliver more new heath care solutions to people in both developed and emerging countries in all parts of the world.
In times like these, some companies might choose to focus simply on running their businesses and think of their corporate responsibility work as a luxury that can wait for better times. Not Pfizer. We believe successful companies can't do one without the other. The world's economic problems have eroded the public's trust in large businesses, and that's just one reason why I personally believe that now is the most important time to reaffirm Pfizer's commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices.
The theme of our report this year is ‘The New Era of Responsibility’ and speaks to Pfizer evolving responsibilities in a changing world. It is my firm belief that for companies to thrive they must adapt, must innovate. For Pfizer this means an even sharper focus on the health needs of society and a renewed commitment to fulfilling the role promised by our scale and expertise.