History
125 years of successfully researching and developing vaccines is summarised in our history timeline showing the progress we’ve made during the years as a leading supplier of vaccines. There is descriptive text and imagery relating to each milestone year. You can go forward or backwards, using the appropriate keys.
History timeline
| 1886 |
Wyeth starts smallpox vaccine production, the first step in eradicating this devastating disease |
| 1906 |
Dr Ernest Lederle founds Lederle Laboratories and diphtheria vaccine is launched |
| 1942 |
Wyeth ships typhus vaccine as part of the war effort to protect armed forces against the disease most frequently seen during times of war and deprivation |
| 1947 |
Lederle introduces a combined vaccine for preventing diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in young children |
| 1960 |
Wyeth produces a freeze-dried smallpox vaccine providing the high quality and added stability needed for mass vaccination |
| 1963 |
Lederle introduces the first oral form of the live trivalent poliovirus vaccine dramatically reducing the incidence of this crippling disease |
| 1968 |
Wyeth waives patent royalties on its innovative bifurcated (two pronged) needle aiding in the delivery of 200 million life saving smallpox vaccinations per year |
| 1990 |
Introduction of the first Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugated vaccines for infants helps reduce the occurrence of this major invasive bacterial disease |
| 1991 |
Introduction of the first diphtheria, tetanus and acellular vaccine for children under 7 |
| 1992 |
HibTITER™ Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugated vaccine is launched in the UK as part of a national immunisation campaign against a leading cause invasive bacterial disease |
| 1995 |
Merger of Wyeth with the American Cyanamid Company (formerly Lederle) |
| 1997 |
Wyeth launches 2 new vaccines in the UK. Pnu-Imune™ is a vaccine against pneumococcal disease caused by the most common types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Begrivac™ is an inactivated influenza vaccine based on recommendations by the World Health Organization |
| 1999 |
Wyeth’s Meningitec®, Meningococcal group C conjugate to protect against meningitis and septicaemia introduced in the UK |
| 2000 |
Prix Galien award for the world’s first conjugate vaccine Meningitec, against meningococcal group C (meningitis C). It was prioritised to enable the NHS vaccination programme to begin and has led to a major reduction in cases of this life-threatening disease |
| 2001 |
European licence granted for Wyeth’s Prevenar - a 7 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine |
2004 Awarded a 2nd Prix Galien award for the world’s first conjugate vaccine against serious pneumococcal disease in children – such as meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia. The vaccine is recommended for inclusion in the UK child immunisation programme 2006 Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduced into UK routine childhood immunisation schedule 2007 World Health Organization recommends that priority should be given to introducing the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into childhood immunisation programmes worldwide 2008 Wyeth submit a broader coverage, 13 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for regulatory approval in Europe 2009 The UK Department of Health estimates that 959 cases of pneumococcal disease and 53 deaths have been prevented since the introduction of Prevenar® into the UK childhood immunisation schedule
2009 Pfizer acquires Wyeth 2010 The Department of Health award Pfizer the national contract to supply Prevenar 13® for the UK childhood immunisation programme, ensuring children in the UK have the broadest available coverage against pneumococcal disease