Diseases & Conditions Articles

Science & Innovation

Spotting the Signs of ATTR-CM: Latest Data Reveals Opportunities for More Timely Detection

For many people living with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR‑CM) – a rare and underdiagnosed cause of heart failure – receiving an accurate diagnosis can be a long and uncertain journey.1,2 Symptoms often resemble more common heart conditions, and early clues are easy to miss.1 But, new real-world evidence being shared at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions highlights opportunities to raise suspicion earlier in the diagnostic journey.“Many patients are already...

Purpose & Ideals

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Racial Toll of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States.1 Caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spread through infected tick bites, it affects an estimated 476,000 Americans each year.1,3Yet the burden of Lyme disease, particularly the experience of a timely diagnosis, isn’t shared equally.Despite its prevalence, the face of Lyme disease in public health data is overwhelmingly white. In the United States, surveillance data shows that over 90% of Lyme...

Science & Innovation

Pursuing the Next Breakthrough in Cancer Cachexia

Cachexia, a complex wasting syndrome, impacts an estimated 9 million people worldwide.[i] In people living with cancer, cachexia can diminish the tolerance of therapies and is linked to reduced survival rates. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments targeting its underlying cause.Over time, the way researchers and physicians understand cachexia has evolved, with growing focus on uncovering the biology behind this devastating disease.In an effort to address a critical gap in care and help...

October Social Media Round-Up—Values Day, ESMO 2025, and More

It may be spooky season, but there’s nothing scary about Pfizer’s updates this month. Check out our social media channels to see the latest.Over on our corporate channels we shared highlights from ESMO 2025, spotlighted the personal stories of our Pfizer colleagues and partners, and launched new episodes of “What’s In My Lab” and “The Power of Knowing.”Meanwhile, CEO Albert Bourla announced Pfizer’s voluntary agreement with the U.S. government to lower drug costs for American patients...

Science & Innovation

Developing a Path Forward in Cancer Cachexia

Across disciplines, therapeutic areas, and even continents, Pfizer scientists have been working to advance understanding of – and potential treatments for – cachexia, a complex metabolic condition associated with certain chronic conditions, such as cancer, and characterized by severe weight loss, decreased appetite, fatigue, and muscle wasting. Its symptoms can often be misattributed, and there are currently no FDA-approved treatments targeting its root cause.But, over the past decade, the...

Helping Kids Stay Safe from Meningococcal Meningitis

It’s mid-October already, and the new school year is well under way. As teens and young adult students resume gathering in classrooms and sharing space with roommates in close living quarters, parents and their kids should be aware of the increased risk of transferable illnesses, especially meningococcal meningitis, a rare but serious disease, and its potentially fatal outcomes.Since 2021, there’s been a rise in meningococcal meningitis cases in the U.S.i In 2024, a confirmed 503 cases were...

Surprise! COVID-19 Can Strike in the Summer. Here’s What to Do

Summer has the best PR. Winter is known for gray skies, cold temperatures, and seasonal depression, while summer boasts sunshine, swimming pools, and vacations. But don’t let these good vibes fool you; summer isn’t all sunshine, roses and sunscreen application; it’s still possible to get sick in these warmer months. Even from COVID-19.Many generally associate COVID-19 with cooler weather, but it actually spreads year-round.1 In fact, COVID-19 rates have risen in July and August every summer...

July Social Media Round-Up—Fireside Chat, Newsweek AI Impact Awards, and More

While you’re relaxing on your summer vacation, catch up on Pfizer's social media to see everything we've been up to this July.Across our corporate channels, we shared positive data from Pfizer's oncology research, launched new episodes of “What’s In My Lab” and “The Power of Knowing,” and walk through the science behind drug formulations and cancer biomarkers.Meanwhile, CEO Albert Bourla hosted a fireside chat with summer workers and shared exciting oncology research updates. The rest of our...

June Social Media Round-Up—Father’s Day, 2024 Impact Report, and More

Both the weather and Pfizer’s social media were heating up during the month of June.On our corporate channels, we shared empowering patient stories, presented positive data at major conferences, and highlighted the latest episodes of “Dear Scientist,” “Front Porch Conversations,” and “Specialty Voices of Innovation.”In the meantime, CEO Albert Bourla paid tribute to fathers on Father’s Day, welcomed an exciting guest to the Pfizer School of Science, and engaged with senior leaders at Pfizer...

Three Tips to Help Kids Manage IBS

When kids have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it can be hard to keep up with their friends and activities. IBS can cause kids to miss school, which may affect their academic development. The symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.1More kids than ever have IBS. Recent decades have seen an increase in the number of young people with IBS, and today about 5% of children between ages of 4 and 18 have the condition.2,3 That means more parents than...

The Future of IBD Care: Pfizer Leads a New Era of Noninvasive Monitoring

At Pfizer, we are committed to improving care and addressing inequities for patients living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.  And, for people living with IBD, regular monitoring of the bowel is important for tracking the disease activity and severity and adjusting treatments and care as needed.1 A colonoscopy—a procedure where doctors use a flexible camera to look inside a patient’s colon—has long been the most common method of...

Living with Colon Cancer: A Pfizer Colleague’s Story

Almost all of us have been impacted by cancer in some way, even those of us who work at a company dedicated to the fight against it. We at Pfizer are not immune, and we are dedicated to helping share the stories of those who have faced the terrible disease. Especially when they are a part of our family.Lily Hickey works as a People Experience Lead for Commercial Oncology at Pfizer, and less than a year after giving birth, she felt a pain in her side that that she initially wrote off as...