v3.19.3.a.u2
Segment, Geographic and Other Revenue Information - Footnotes (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2019
Sep. 29, 2019
Jul. 01, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Jul. 02, 2017
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Jul. 31, 2019
Nov. 10, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Litigation settlement income (loss)                 $ (554) $ (157) $ (240)      
Business alignment costs                 338 63 71      
Gain associated with Bain Capital transaction                 454 586 224      
Gain on completion of Consumer Healthcare JV transaction                 8,086 0 0      
Loss on early retirement of debt     $ 999           138 3 999      
Research and development expenses                 8,650 8,006 7,683      
External incremental costs                 152 112        
Loss on disposition of property                   (60) (52)      
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Restructuring charges and implementation costs                 758 977 204      
Litigation settlement income (loss)                 (543) (157)        
Certain asset impairments                 2,800 3,100 379      
Business alignment costs                 495 63        
Gain associated with Bain Capital transaction                 415 586 224      
Loss on early retirement of debt                 138   999      
Other income (charges)                 1,300 4 756      
One-time bonus paid to all Pfizer colleagues excluding executives                   119        
Other legal matters, net                     237      
Alignment costs                     71      
HIS [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Income (Loss) on sale of HIS net assets                   1 (55)      
ViiV Healthcare Limited [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Dividend income                 $ 220 253 266      
Equity method investment, ownership percentage       11.70%         11.70%          
ViiV Healthcare Limited [Member] | Biopharma Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Dividend income                 $ 220 253 266      
GSK Consumer Healthcare [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Gain on completion of Consumer Healthcare JV transaction         $ 8,100                  
Equity method investment, ownership percentage       32.00%         32.00%     32.00%    
GSK Consumer Healthcare [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Gain on completion of Consumer Healthcare JV transaction                 $ 8,100          
External incremental costs                 240          
Allogene [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Gain from contribution agreement           $ 50       50        
Allogene [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Gain from contribution agreement                   50        
Hisun Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Loss on disposition of property                     $ 81      
Equity method investment, ownership percentage     49.00%       49.00%       49.00%   49.00%  
Loss on disposal of equity method investment             $ 81              
Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Equity method investment, ownership percentage     40.00%       40.00%       40.00%     40.00%
Loss on disposal of equity method investment               $ 30     $ 30      
NovaQuest Co-Investment Fund V, L.P. [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Research and development expenses                 15          
Charge primarily for inventory manufactured for expected future sale                 99          
NovaQuest Co-Investment Fund V, L.P. [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Charge primarily for inventory manufactured for expected future sale                 99          
Bain Capital [Member] | Cerevel [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Gain associated with Bain Capital transaction   $ 343               343        
Bain Capital [Member] | Cerevel [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Gain associated with Bain Capital transaction                   $ 343        
Research and Development Expense [Member] | Licensing Agreements [Member] | Akcea And Ionis [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Payment for licensing arrangement $ 250     $ 250                    
Other Income (Expense) [Member] | GSK Consumer Healthcare [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Restructuring charges and implementation costs                 112          
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Charitable contribution expense                     200      
Cost of Sales [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Inventory losses and overhead costs                     $ 195      
Therachon Asset Acquisition [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Research and development expenses                 $ 337          
Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent     60.00%       60.00%       60.00%      
Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member] | Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member]                            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                            
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent     60.00%       60.00%       60.00%