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Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 case	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) case claim	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Legal Defense Costs
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Legal defense costs reserve | $		$ 225	$ 235
Zetia antitrust litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims | claim		35
Fosamax
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims		3,470
Fosamax | Femur Fracture Litigation | Federal
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, claims on appeal	515
Loss contingency, claims dismissed	650
Januvia
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims | claim		730
Januvia | Other State Court
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims | claim		6
Januvia | Cases Company Agreed To Toll Statute Of Limitations
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, pending claims | claim		50
Bridion | Patents
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, claims settled		3
Januvia and Janumet | Patents
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, claims settled		16

X

- Definition

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+ References

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- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
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- Definition

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+ References

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- Definition

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+ References

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- Definition

Number of claims settled.

+ References

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- Definition

Number of pending claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
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