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Acquisitions, Divestitures, Research Collaborations and License Agreements - Acquisitions Narrative (Details) € in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2017 EUR (€) | Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Acquisitions Divestitures Research Collaborations And License Agreements Transactions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 18,340,000,000 |  | $ 18,162,000,000 |
Contingent consideration |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 945,000,000 | $ 894,000,000 | $ 891,000,000 | $ 590,000,000
Contingent milestone payment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,000,000 | $ 25,000,000 |  |
Rigontec | Subsequent event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions Divestitures Research Collaborations And License Agreements Transactions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for acquisition of business | $ 140,000,000 | € 119 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of potential future additional payments for milestones, maximum | € |  | € 349 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Vallee SA |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions Divestitures Research Collaborations And License Agreements Transactions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for acquisition of business |  |  |  | $ 358,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of business acquired (as percent) |  |  |  | 93.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Escrow deposit |  |  |  | $ 176,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets |  |  |  | 291,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax liabilities noncurrent |  |  |  | 93,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other net assets |  |  |  | 15,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | 25,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent liabilities |  |  |  | 37,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indemnification assets |  |  |  | 37,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | $ 170,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate (as percent) |  |  |  | 15.50% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  |  |  | 15 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Afferent Pharmaceuticals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions Divestitures Research Collaborations And License Agreements Transactions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for acquisition of business |  |  |  |  | $ 487,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of potential future additional payments for milestones, maximum |  |  |  |  | 750,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax liabilities noncurrent |  |  |  |  | 258,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other net assets |  |  |  |  | 29,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  | $ 130,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate (as percent) |  |  |  |  | 11.50% |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration transferred |  |  |  |  | $ 510,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
In-process research and development (IPR&D) |  |  |  |  | 832,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration |  |  |  |  | 223,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
StayWell Company |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions Divestitures Research Collaborations And License Agreements Transactions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for acquisition of business |  |  |  |  | 150,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible assets |  |  |  |  | 238,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred tax liabilities noncurrent |  |  |  |  | 84,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  | 124,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  | $ 275,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, weighted average useful life |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt |  |  |  |  | $ 150,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Period before option becomes exercisable |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Other net liabilities |  |  |  |  | $ 5,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Useful life |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Moderna Therapeutics |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions Divestitures Research Collaborations And License Agreements Transactions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Upfront and milestone payments made to collaborative partner |  |  |  |  |  | $ 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
IOmet Pharma Ltd |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions Divestitures Research Collaborations And License Agreements Transactions [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for acquisition of business |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 150,000,000 |  |  |  |
Amount of potential future additional payments for milestones, maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  | 250,000,000 |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 57,000,000 |  |  |  |
Discount rate (as percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.50% |  |  |  |
In-process research and development (IPR&D) |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 155,000,000 |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration |  |  |  |  |  |  | 94,000,000 |  |  |  |
Deferred tax assets noncurrent |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 32,000,000 |  |  |  |
Contingent milestone payment |  |  | $ 100,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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