Goodwill and intangible assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill were as follows (in millions):


	December 31,
	2020		2019
Beginning balance	$	14,703	$	14,699
Addition from acquisitions	—		26
Currency translation adjustments	(14)		(22)
Ending balance	$	14,689	$	14,703

Other intangible assets

Other intangible assets consisted of the following (in millions):


	December 31,
	2020						2019
	Gross carrying amounts		Accumulated amortization		Other intangible assets, net		Gross carrying amounts		Accumulated amortization		Other intangible assets, net
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Developed-product-technology rights	$	25,591	$	(10,564)	$	15,027	$	25,575	$	(8,322)	$	17,253
Licensing rights	3,743		(2,791)		952		3,761		(2,398)		1,363
Marketing-related rights	1,367		(1,041)		326		1,382		(965)		417
R&D technology rights	1,317		(1,065)		252		1,273		(947)		326
Total finite-lived intangible assets	32,018		(15,461)		16,557		31,991		(12,632)		19,359
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
IPR&D	30		—		30		54		—		54
Total other intangible assets	$	32,048	$	(15,461)	$	16,587	$	32,045	$	(12,632)	$	19,413

Developed-product-technology rights consists of rights related to marketed products acquired in acquisitions. Licensing rights consists primarily of contractual rights acquired in acquisitions to receive future milestone, royalty and profit-sharing payments; capitalized payments to third parties for milestones related to regulatory approvals to commercialize products; and up-front payments associated with royalty obligations for marketed products. Marketing-related rights consists primarily of rights related to the sale and distribution of marketed products. R&D technology rights pertains to technologies used in R&D that have alternative future uses.

IPR&D consists of R&D projects acquired in a business combination that are not complete at the time of acquisition due to remaining technological risks and/or lack of receipt of required regulatory approvals. All IPR&D projects have major risks and uncertainties associated with the timely and successful completion of the development and commercialization of product candidates, including our ability to confirm safety and efficacy based on data from clinical trials, our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and our ability to successfully complete these tasks within budgeted costs. We are not permitted to market a human therapeutic without obtaining regulatory approvals, and such approvals require the completion of clinical trials that demonstrate that a product candidate is safe and effective. In addition, the availability and extent of coverage and reimbursement from third-party payers, including government healthcare programs and private insurance plans as well as competitive product launches, affect the revenues a product can generate. Consequently, the eventual realized values, if any, of acquired IPR&D projects may vary from their estimated fair values. We review IPR&D projects for impairment annually, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable and upon the establishment of technological feasibility or regulatory approval.During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, we recognized amortization associated with our finite-lived intangible assets of $2.8 billion, $1.4 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. Amortization of intangible assets is included primarily in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The total estimated amortization for our finite-lived intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, are $2.6 billion, $2.5 billion, $2.4 billion, $2.4 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively.