STARTING TODAY, 45 MILLION UNINSURED CAN FILL PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PFIZER MEDICINES AT SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS
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Pfizer Pfriends™ Helps Uninsured Individuals Pay Prices Similar to Those Paid by Large Purchasers
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Ninety Five Percent of All U.S. Pharmacies Participating
in Pfizer Pfriends Program

NEW YORK, October 7 -- Pfizer Inc announced today that America's uninsured can now begin filling prescriptions for Pfizer medicines at significant savings through more than 52,000 community pharmacies nationwide (representing 95 percent of all community pharmacies across the U.S.), or via Pfizer's mail order service. The savings are available through Pfizer's new program, Pfizer Pfriends . (For a list of many participating pharmacies, please see attachment.)

Enrollment for the program began in August and is ongoing through an easy-to-use toll-free number and website. Anyone without insurance for prescription drugs who needs a Pfizer medicine can easily enroll by calling 1-866-706-2400, or logging on to www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com, to begin getting savings on their Pfizer medicines.

"We know that paying for prescription medicines can be challenging, especially for those without prescription medicine insurance," said Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Hank McKinnell. "Through Pfizer Pfriends, the uninsured don't have to pay full retail price for their Pfizer medicines and can go to almost any retail pharmacy in the country and save money immediately."

Pat Kelly, president of Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals, said that being uninsured can make it more difficult to get access to quality health care, and that the uninsured pay more for preventive treatment such as doctor visits and prescription medicines. Pfizer Pfriends can help ease the burden on America's 45 million uninsured by giving them access to prices similar to those paid by large purchasers like major employers and health insurance companies.

"As a graduate student, I don't have insurance for my prescription medicines, which meant that I paid full price for my Zoloft prescription. Now, using my Pfizer Pfriends card, I pay 35 percent less, which is better than the average price I have found through the Internet," said Pfizer Pfriends enrollee Jeremy Groves of St. Louis. "The benefits go beyond just price, because I can fill my prescriptions at my local pharmacy and know that my Zoloft is coming from a trusted source."

Pfizer Pfriends provides uninsured consumers with the choice of filling a prescription for Pfizer medicines either at 52,000 retail pharmacies nationwide (representing 95 percent of all community pharmacies across the U.S.), or through Pfizer's mail order service. These options enable consumers to obtain their Pfizer medicines at significant savings from a local, trusted American source.

"The Pfizer Pfriends program is going to make a major difference for the uninsured. Pharmacists see first-hand when people have a hard time affording their medicines. Pfizer has given us a great tool to help our customers so that they don't resort to unsafe measures. That is why we are helping Pfizer spread the word," said Bruce Roberts, R.Ph., executive vice president and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

A Step Toward a Comprehensive Solution
"We know that savings on Pfizer medicines don't solve all the health care problems for the uninsured, but this is one thing we can do to help America's uninsured have access to safe and affordable Pfizer medicines right now," said Kelly.

Kelly said that prescription medicines are especially important because they can help people avoid more expensive care, such as surgery and hospitalization. Kelly emphasized that Pfizer viewed its program as a first step, and that Pfizer is committed to working with others toward a comprehensive solution that "makes health care available to everyone and affordable to all."

Medical, patient and civic groups as well as public officials such as Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson and Senator Hillary Clinton have praised the Pfizer Pfriends program as a significant step towards better health care for those in need. Groups that have expressed support for Pfizer Pfriends include: the American College of Emergency Physicians, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Easter Seals, the National Grange and the National Medical Association.

Pfizer Pfriends is part of a broad Pfizer initiative, called Pfizer Helpful Answers™, that improves access to Pfizer medicines for America's uninsured, regardless of age or income. Other Pfizer programs that operate under the Helpful Answers banner offer free Pfizer medicines to those with very low incomes.

Pfizer Helpful Answers offers something for every person without prescription medicine insurance, regardless of age or income, and provides the greatest savings for those with the lowest incomes.
l Through Pfizer programs Connection to Care™ and Sharing the Care®, families earning $31,000 or less qualify for free Pfizer medicines;
l Through Pfizer Pfriends, families earning $45,000 or less per year will see savings on Pfizer medicines of up to 50 percent, and averaging 37 percent, off retail prices; and,
l Through Pfizer Pfriends, families earning more than $45,000 per year will be eligible for savings on Pfizer medicines of up to 25 percent, and averaging 15 percent, off retail prices.

To help people enroll in any of the Pfizer Helpful Answers programs, Pfizer created an easy-to-use, single toll-free number and web site that connects consumers to every Pfizer program. America's uninsured who need help getting access to Pfizer medicines can call Pfizer Helpful Answers at 1-866-706-2400, or log on to the Internet at www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com. Helpful Answers also will refer patients to other programs for which they may be eligible, such as Medicaid, state prescription assistance programs and other publicly funded programs. For help with non-Pfizer medicines, patients can log on to www.pparx.org.

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Retail Chains Participating in Pfizer Pfriends™

The following retail chains are providing their support for Pfizer Pfriends by helping to pass significant savings on Pfizer medicines along to uninsured customers who are enrolled in the program:
l Ahold (Giant Food-PA, Giant Food-MD, Stop & Shop, Bi-Lo, Bruno's, Tops Markets)
l Albertsons (Sav-On, Osco, Jewel, Acme)
l Brooks Pharmacy
l Costco
l CVS
l Duane Reade
l Eckerd Pharmacy
l Familymeds Pharmacy (Arrow Prescription Center)
l Fred's
l Giant Eagle
l Happy Harry's
l H E B Foods/Drugs
l Hy-Vee Food Stores (Drug Town)
l Kerr
l K-Mart
l Kroger (Ralph's, King Soopers, Dillon's, Smith's, Fry's, Fred Meyer, QFC)
l Longs
l Meijer
l Participating Medicine Shoppe stores and Medicap Pharmacies
l Publix Super Markets
l Raley's (Nob Hill Pharmacy, Bel Air Markets)
l Rite Aid
l Safeway (Vons, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Dominick's)
l Shopko (Pamida)
l USA Drug (Super D Drugs, Med X Drug, May's Drug Stores, Drug Warehouse)
l Walgreens
l Wal-Mart
l Wegmans Food Markets
Independent pharmacies across America are also participating in the Pfizer Pfriends program.

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