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Restructuring Charges and Other Costs Associated with Acquisitions and Cost-Reduction/Productivity Initiatives (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | 84 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Jun. 28, 2009
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Jun. 03, 2009
Wyeth [Member]
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Mar. 24, 2009
Wyeth [Member]
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Mar. 12, 2009
Wyeth [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Employee termination costs [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Employee termination costs [Member]
Employee
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Dec. 31, 2011
Primary Care [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Primary Care [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Specialty Care And Oncology [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Specialty Care And Oncology [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Established Products and Emerging Markets [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Established Products and Emerging Markets [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Animal Health and Consumer Healthcare operating segment [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Animal Health and Consumer Healthcare operating segment [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Animal Health and Consumer Healthcare operating segment [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Nutrition [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Nutrition [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Nutrition [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Research and Development Operations [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Research and Development Operations [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Research and Development Operations [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Manufacturing Operations [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Manufacturing Operations [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Manufacturing Operations [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Corporate [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Corporate [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Corporate [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2009
Biopharmaceutical operating segments [Member]
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| Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unused Bridge Loan | $ 22,500,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior unsecured notes | 24,000,000,000 | 10,500,000,000 | 13,500,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated Employee Terminations | 57,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and Related Activities, Initiation Date | Jan. 01, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and Related Activities, Current Date | Dec. 31, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actual Employees Terminated | 42,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges | $ 593,000,000 | $ 71,000,000 | $ 220,000,000 | $ 197,000,000 | $ 110,000,000 | $ 43,000,000 | $ 51,000,000 | $ 46,000,000 | $ 250,000,000 | $ 4,000,000 | $ 4,000,000 | $ (4,000,000) | $ 489,000,000 | $ 292,000,000 | $ 339,000,000 | $ 280,000,000 | $ 1,100,000,000 | $ 292,000,000 | $ 427,000,000 | $ 455,000,000 | $ 781,000,000 | $ 1,300,000,000 | ||||||