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Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | $ 14,604 | $ 14,196 |
Intangible asset impairment charge related to marketed product |  | 705 |
IPR&D impairment charges |  | 172 | $ 152
Changes in estimated fair value | 83 | 64 |
Amortization expense for intangible assets | 1,900 | 2,000 | 3,100
Estimated aggregate amortization expense, 2021 | 1,500 |  |
Estimated aggregate amortization expense, 2022 | 1,500 |  |
Estimated aggregate amortization expense, 2023 | 1,400 |  |
Estimated aggregate amortization expense, 2024 | 1,300 |  |
Estimated aggregate amortization expense, 2025 | 1,200 |  |
Zerbaxa |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible asset impairment charge related to marketed product | 1,600 |  |
Inventory Write-down | 120 |  |
Sivextro |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible asset impairment charge related to marketed product |  | 612 |
Animal Health |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 5,400 |  |
Adempas | Other |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets | 849 |  |
IOmet Pharma Ltd |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
IPR&D impairment charges |  | 155 |
Changes in estimated fair value |  | (11) |
SmartCells Program |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
IPR&D impairment charges |  |  | 139
Changes in estimated fair value |  |  | $ (60)
COVID-19 |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
IPR&D impairment charges | 90 |  |
Changes in estimated fair value | (45) |  |
Products and product rights |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 5,162 | 7,095 |
Products and product rights | Zerbaxa |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 551 |  |
Products and product rights | Sivextro |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 154 |  |
Products and product rights | Implanon/Nexplanon |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 354 |  |
Products and product rights | Dificid |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 228 |  |
Products and product rights | Gardasil/Gardasil 9 |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 276 |  |
Products and product rights | Bridion |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 185 |  |
Products and product rights | Simponi |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 132 |  |
Trade names |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 2,530 | 2,682 |
Licenses |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 2,790 | $ 2,361 |
Licenses | Lenvima |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 1,100 |  |
Licenses | Lynparza |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | 1,300 |  |
Antelliq | Trade names |  |  |
Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Other intangibles, net | $ 2,500 |  |

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- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 + Details
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