Amgen (AMGN) 10-K 13 Feb 19 2018 FY Annual report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 07, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	AMGEN INC
Entity Central Index Key	318,154
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 119,629,312,769
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		622,278,034
Shares of common stock held by directors and executive officers			884,143

Consolidated Statements of Inco

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 23,747	$ 22,849	$ 22,991
Operating expenses:
Cost of sales	4,101	4,069	4,162
Research and development	3,737	3,562	3,840
Selling, general and administrative	5,332	4,870	5,062
Other	314	375	133
Total operating expenses	13,484	12,876	13,197
Operating income	10,263	9,973	9,794
Interest expense, net	1,392	1,304	1,260
Interest and other income, net	674	928	629
Income before income taxes	9,545	9,597	9,163
Provision for income taxes	1,151	7,618	1,441
Net income	$ 8,394	$ 1,979	$ 7,722
Earnings per share:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 12.70	$ 2.71	$ 10.32
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 12.62	$ 2.69	$ 10.24
Shares used in the calculation of earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	661	731	748
Diluted (in shares)	665	735	754
Product [Member]
Revenues:
Product sales	$ 22,533	$ 21,795	$ 21,892
Other [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,214	$ 1,054	$ 1,099

Consolidated Statements of Comp

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 8,394	$ 1,979	$ 7,722
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of reclassification adjustments and taxes:
(Losses) gains on foreign currency translation	(141)	81	(99)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	247	(288)	(15)
(Losses) gains on available-for-sale securities	(185)	(6)	122
Other	(2)	5	1
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(81)	(208)	9
Comprehensive income	$ 8,313	$ 1,771	$ 7,731

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 6,945	$ 3,800
Marketable securities	22,359	37,878
Trade receivables, net	3,580	3,237
Inventories	2,940	2,834
Other current assets	1,794	1,727
Total current assets	37,618	49,476
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,958	4,989
Intangible assets, net	7,443	8,609
Goodwill	14,699	14,761
Other assets	1,698	2,119
Total assets	66,416	79,954
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,207	1,352
Accrued liabilities	7,862	6,516
Current portion of long-term debt	4,419	1,152
Total current liabilities	13,488	9,020
Long-term debt	29,510	34,190
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	864	1,166
Long-term tax liabilities	8,770	9,099
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,284	1,238
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital; $0.0001 par value per share; 2,750.0 shares authorized; outstanding—629.6 shares in 2018 and 722.2 shares in 2017	31,246	30,992
Accumulated deficit	(17,977)	(5,072)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(769)	(679)
Total stockholders’ equity	12,500	25,241
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 66,416	$ 79,954

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.0001	$ 0.0001
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, shares authorized	2,750	2,750
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, shares outstanding	629.6	722.2

Consolidated Statements of Stoc

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Number of shares of common stock [Member]	Common stock and additional paid-in capital [Member]	Accumulated deficit [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member]
Beginning Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015		754
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 28,083		$ 30,649	$ (2,086)	$ (480)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	7,722			7,722
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	9				9
Dividends declared on common stock	(3,120)			(3,120)
Issuance of common stock in connection with the Company’s equity award programs, Shares		3.9
Issuance of common stock in connection with the Company’s equity award programs	55		55
Stock-based compensation expense	342		342
Tax impact related to employee stock-based compensation expense	(189)		(262)	73
Repurchases of common stock, Shares		(19.7)
Repurchases of common stock	(3,027)			(3,027)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2016		738.2
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	29,875		30,784	(438)	(471)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	1,979			1,979
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(208)				(208)
Dividends declared on common stock	(3,487)			(3,487)
Issuance of common stock in connection with the Company’s equity award programs, Shares		2.5
Issuance of common stock in connection with the Company’s equity award programs	52		52
Stock-based compensation expense	347		347
Tax impact related to employee stock-based compensation expense	(191)		(191)
Repurchases of common stock, Shares		(18.5)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (3,126)			(3,126)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2017	722.2	722.2
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 25,241		30,992	(5,072)	(679)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	8,394			8,394
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(81)				(81)
Dividends declared on common stock	(3,482)			(3,482)
Issuance of common stock in connection with the Company’s equity award programs, Shares		1.9
Issuance of common stock in connection with the Company’s equity award programs	56		56
Stock-based compensation expense	327		327
Tax impact related to employee stock-based compensation expense	(129)		(129)
Repurchases of common stock, Shares		(94.5)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (17,855)			(17,855)
Ending Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2018	629.6	629.6
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 12,500		$ 31,246	$ (17,977)	$ (769)

Consolidated Statements of St_2

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 07, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Common stock, dividends declared per share (in usd per share)	$ 1.45	$ 5.41	$ 4.77	$ 4.15

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 8,394	$ 1,979	$ 7,722
Depreciation and amortization	1,946	1,955	2,105
Stock-based compensation expense	311	329	311
Deferred income taxes	(363)	(1,330)	183
Other items, net	386	334	32
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Trade receivables, net	(378)	(58)	(214)
Inventories	(3)	133	(80)
Other assets	35	(24)	(128)
Accounts payable	(143)	424	(44)
Accrued income taxes, net	(361)	523	(301)
Long-term tax liabilities	258	6,681	445
Other liabilities	1,214	231	323
Net cash provided by operating activities	11,296	11,177	10,354
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities	(18,741)	(33,607)	(28,094)
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities	28,356	24,240	17,958
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities	5,412	6,174	2,459
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(738)	(664)	(738)
Cash acquired in acquisition, net of cash paid	195	(19)	0
Other	(145)	(148)	(243)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	14,339	(4,024)	(8,658)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of debt	0	4,476	7,318
Repayment of debt	(1,121)	(4,405)	(3,725)
Repurchases of common stock	(17,794)	(3,160)	(2,965)
Dividends paid	(3,507)	(3,365)	(2,998)
Withholding taxes arising from shares withheld for share-based payments	(126)	(191)	(260)
Other	58	51	31
Net cash used in financing activities	(22,490)	(6,594)	(2,599)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	3,145	559	(903)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,800	3,241	4,144
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 6,945	$ 3,800	$ 3,241

Summary of significant accounti

Summary of significant accounting policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of significant accounting policies	Summary of significant accounting policies Business Amgen Inc. (including its subsidiaries, referred to as “Amgen,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is a global biotechnology pioneer that discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. We operate in one business segment: human therapeutics. Principles of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amgen as well as its majority-owned subsidiaries. We do not have any significant interests in any variable interest entities. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Revenues Adoption of new revenue recognition standard In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers to transfer goods and services. The FASB subsequently issued additional, clarifying standards to address issues arising from implementation of the new revenue recognition standard. The new revenue recognition standard and clarifying standards require an entity to recognize revenue when control of promised goods or services is transferred to the customer at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. We adopted this new standard as of January 1, 2018, by applying the modified-retrospective method to those contracts that were not completed as of that date. The results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018, are presented in accordance with the new standard, although comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards and policies in effect for those periods. Upon adoption, we recorded a net decrease of $25 million to Accumulated deficit due to the cumulative impact of adopting the new standard—with the impact related primarily to the acceleration of deferred revenue, net of related deferred tax impact. The adoption of this new standard had an immaterial impact on our reported total revenues and operating income as compared to what reported amounts would have been under the prior standard, and we expect the impact of adoption in future periods to also be immaterial. Our accounting policies under the new standard were applied prospectively and are described below. See Note 4, Revenues. Product sales and sales deductions Revenue from product sales is recognized upon transfer of control of a product to a customer, generally upon delivery, based on an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled, net of accruals for estimated rebates, wholesaler chargebacks, discounts and other deductions (collectively, sales deductions) and returns established at the time of sale. We analyze the adequacy of our accruals for sales deductions quarterly. Amounts accrued for sales deductions are adjusted when trends or significant events indicate that an adjustment is appropriate. Accruals are also adjusted to reflect actual results. Accruals for sales deductions are based primarily on estimates of the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales. These estimates take into consideration current contractual and statutory requirements, specific known market events and trends, internal and external historical data and forecasted customer buying patterns. Sales deductions are substantially product specific and therefore, for any given period, can be affected by the mix of products sold. Included in sales deductions are immaterial net adjustments related to prior-period sales due to changes in estimates. Historically, such amounts have represented less than 1% of the aggregate sales deductions charged against product sales. Returns are estimated through comparison of historical return data to their related sales on a production lot basis. Historical rates of return are determined for each product and are adjusted for known or expected changes in the marketplace specific to each product, when appropriate. Historically, sales return provisions have amounted to less than 1% of gross product sales. Changes in estimates for prior-period sales return provisions have historically been immaterial. Our payment terms vary by types and locations of customers and the products or services offered. Payment terms differ by jurisdiction and customer, but payment is generally required in a term ranging from 30 to 120 days from date of shipment or satisfaction of the performance obligation. For certain products or services and certain customer types, we may require payment before products are delivered or services are rendered to customers. Indirect taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities and that are related to sales of the Company’s products, primarily in Europe, are excluded from revenues. As a practical expedient, sales commissions are expensed when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Other revenues Other revenues consist primarily of royalty income and corporate partner revenues. Royalties from licensees are based on third-party sales of licensed products and are recorded when the related third-party product sale occurs. Royalty estimates are based on historical and forecasted sales trends. Corporate partner revenues are composed mainly of license fees and milestones earned and our share of commercial profits generated from collaborations. See Arrangements with multiple-performance obligations, discussed below. Arrangements with multiple-performance obligations From time to time, we enter into arrangements for the research and development (R&D), manufacture and/or commercialization of products and product candidates. Such arrangements may require us to deliver various rights, services and/or goods, including intellectual property rights/licenses, R&D services, manufacturing services and/or commercialization services. The underlying terms of these arrangements generally provide for consideration to Amgen in the form of nonrefundable upfront license fees, development and commercial performance milestone payments, royalty payments and/or profit sharing. In arrangements involving more than one performance obligation, each required performance obligation is evaluated to determine whether it qualifies as a distinct performance obligation based on whether (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available and (ii) the good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. The consideration under the arrangement is then allocated to each separate distinct performance obligation based on its respective relative stand-alone selling price. The estimated selling price of each deliverable reflects our best estimate of what the selling price would be if the deliverable was regularly sold by us on a stand-alone basis or using an adjusted market assessment approach if selling price on a stand-alone basis is not available. The consideration allocated to each distinct performance obligation is recognized as revenue when control of the related goods or services is transferred. Consideration associated with at-risk substantive performance milestones is recognized as revenue when it is probable that a significant reversal of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. We utilize the sales and usage-based royalty exception in arrangements that resulted from the license of intellectual property, recognizing revenues generated from royalties or profit sharing as the underlying sales occur. Research and development costs R&D costs are expensed as incurred and include primarily salaries, benefits and other staff-related costs; facilities and overhead costs; clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing costs; contract services and other outside costs; information systems’ costs; and amortization of acquired technology used in R&D with alternative future uses. R&D expenses also include costs and cost recoveries associated with third-party R&D arrangements, including upfront fees and milestones paid to third parties in connection with technologies that had not reached technological feasibility and did not have an alternative future use. Net payment or reimbursement of R&D costs is recognized when the obligations are incurred or as we become entitled to the cost recovery. See Note 9, Collaborations. Selling, general and administrative costs Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs are composed primarily of salaries, benefits and other staff-related costs associated with sales and marketing, finance, legal and other administrative personnel; facilities and overhead costs; outside marketing, advertising and legal expenses; the U.S. healthcare reform federal excise fee on Branded Prescription Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Importers; and other general and administrative costs. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $674 million , $620 million and $489 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. SG&A expenses also include costs and cost recoveries associated with marketing and promotion efforts under certain collaborative arrangements. Net payment or reimbursement of SG&A costs is recognized when the obligations are incurred or we become entitled to the cost recovery. See Note 9, Collaborations. Stock-based compensation We have stock-based compensation plans under which various types of equity-based awards are granted, including restricted stock units (RSUs), performance units and stock options. The fair values of RSUs and stock option awards, which are subject only to service conditions with graded vesting, are recognized as compensation expense, generally on a straight-line basis over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The fair values of performance unit awards are recognized as compensation expense, generally on a straight-line basis from the grant date to the end of the performance period. See Note 5, Stock-based compensation. Income taxes We provide for income taxes based on pretax income and applicable tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and income tax assets and liabilities, including evaluating uncertainties in the application of accounting principles and complex tax laws. Deferred income taxes are recorded for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the bases of assets and liabilities, as well as for loss and tax credit carryforwards for financial reporting purposes and amounts recognized for income tax purposes. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount of future tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recognized in the consolidated financial statements for a particular tax position is based on the largest benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits (UTBs) is adjusted as appropriate for changes in facts and circumstances, such as significant amendments to existing tax law, new regulations or interpretations by the taxing authorities, new information obtained during a tax examination, or resolution of an examination. We recognize both accrued interest and penalties, where appropriate, related to UTBs in income tax expense. See Note 7, Income taxes. Business combinations Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, assets acquired, including in-process research and development (IPR&D) projects, and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date in our consolidated financial statements. The excess of the fair value of consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Contingent consideration obligations incurred in connection with a business combination (including the assumption of an acquiree’s liability arising from a business combination it consummated prior to our acquisition) are recorded at their fair values on the acquisition date and remeasured at their fair values each subsequent reporting period until the related contingencies are resolved. The resulting changes in fair values are recorded in earnings. See Note 3, Business combinations, and Note 18, Fair value measurement. Cash equivalents We consider cash equivalents to be only those investments that are highly liquid, readily convertible to cash and which mature within three months from the date of purchase. Interest-bearing securities We consider our interest-bearing securities investment portfolio available-for-sale, and accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI). Investments with maturities beyond one year may be classified as short-term marketable securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets due to their highly liquid nature and because they represent the Company’s investments that are available for current operations. See Note 11, Investments, and Note 18, Fair value measurement. Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost, which includes amounts related to materials, labor and overhead, is determined in a manner that approximates the first-in, first-out method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. See Note 12, Inventories. Derivatives We recognize all of our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the derivative has been formally designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship under the applicable accounting standards and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. For derivatives formally designated as hedges, we assess both at inception and quarterly thereafter, whether the hedging derivatives are highly effective in offsetting changes in either the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. Our derivatives that are not designated and do not qualify as hedges are adjusted to fair value through current earnings. See Note 18, Fair value measurement, and Note 19, Derivative instruments. Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment is recorded at historical cost, net of accumulated depreciation, amortization and, if applicable, impairment charges. We review our property, plant and equipment assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Depreciation is provided over the assets’ useful lives on a straight-line basis. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or lease terms. See Note 13, Property, plant and equipment. Goodwill and other intangible assets Finite-lived intangible assets are recorded at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and, if applicable, impairment charges. Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets is provided over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis or based on the pattern in which economic benefits are consumed, if reliably determinable. We review our finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. See Note 14, Goodwill and other intangible assets. The fair values of IPR&D projects acquired in a business combination that are not complete are capitalized and accounted for as indefinite-lived intangible assets until completion or abandonment of the related R&D efforts. Upon successful completion of the project, the capitalized amount is amortized over its estimated useful life. If a project is abandoned, all remaining capitalized amounts are written off immediately. There are often major risks and uncertainties associated with IPR&D projects as we are required to obtain regulatory approvals in order to be able to market the resulting products. Such approvals require completing clinical trials that demonstrate a product candidate is safe and effective. Consequently, the eventual realized value of the acquired IPR&D project may vary from its fair value at the date of acquisition, and IPR&D impairment charges may occur in future periods. Capitalized IPR&D projects are tested for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We consider various factors for potential impairment, including the current legal and regulatory environment and the competitive landscape. Adverse clinical trial results, significant delays in obtaining marketing approval, the inability to bring a product to market and the introduction or advancement of competitors’ products could result in partial or full impairment of the related intangible assets. We perform an impairment test of goodwill annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. To date, an impairment of goodwill has not been recorded. See Note 14, Goodwill and other intangible assets. Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various legal proceedings, government investigations and other matters that are complex in nature and have outcomes that are difficult to predict. Certain of these proceedings are discussed in Note 20, Contingencies and commitments. We record accruals for loss contingencies to the extent that we conclude that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the related loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and other matters that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that has been accrued previously. Foreign currency translation The net assets of international subsidiaries whose local currencies have been determined to be the functional currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. The U.S. dollar effects that arise from translating net assets of these subsidiaries at changing rates are recognized in AOCI. The earnings of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates. Other recently adopted pronouncements In January 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the accounting and disclosures of financial instruments, including a provision requiring that equity investments (except for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting) be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. With the exception of equity investments that were previously accounted for at cost, a modified-retrospective approach was used to reflect the cumulative-effect of adoption as an adjustment to Accumulated deficit as of the beginning of the fiscal year. The new standard will be applied prospectively to investments currently that were previously accounted for at cost. Upon adoption, on January 1, 2018, we recorded an immaterial adjustment to Accumulated deficit from AOCI, which represented the net unrealized gain on all equity investments with readily determinable fair values as of December 31, 2017. The impact that this new standard has on our consolidated statements of income after adoption will depend on changes in fair values of equity securities in our portfolio in the future. See Note 11, Investments. In October 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the income tax accounting guidance for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new standard requires that entities recognize the income tax consequences of an intercompany transfer of an asset, other than inventory, in the period the transfer occurs. The current exception to defer the recognition of any tax impact on intercompany transfers of inventory until the inventory is sold to a third party remains unaffected. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, and will apply it to any transaction occurring on or after the adoption date. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements; however, the impact on our consolidated financial statements in future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions. In January 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that changes the definition of a business to assist entities with the evaluation of when a set of assets acquired or disposed of should be considered a business. The new standard requires that an entity evaluate whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of assets would not be considered a business. The new standard also requires that a business include at least one substantive process, and it narrows the definition of outputs. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018. Adoption of this new standard may result in more transactions being accounted for as asset acquisitions versus business combinations; however, the impact on our consolidated financial statements in future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions. In August 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the accounting and reporting of hedging activities, which we elected to adopt early during the second quarter of 2018. Among its provisions, the new standard (i) eliminates the separate measurement and reporting of hedge ineffectiveness and (ii) permits an entity to recognize in earnings the initial fair value of an excluded component of a hedging instrument’s fair value under a systematic and rational method over the life of the derivative instrument. In accordance with the transition provisions of the new standard, the separate measurement of ineffectiveness for our cash flow hedging instruments existing as of the date of adoption is required to be eliminated through a cumulative-effect adjustment to Accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of the fiscal year. In addition, certain provisions in the guidance require modifications to existing presentation and disclosure requirements on a prospective basis. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 19, Derivative instruments. Other recent accounting pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases. This new standard requires that lessees recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including leases classified as operating leases under current GAAP, and disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements. The new standard requires a modified-retrospective approach to adoption and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB further amended this standard to allow for a new transition method that offers the option to use the effective date as the date of initial application. We intend to elect this alternative transition method and therefore will not adjust comparative-period financial information. In addition, we intend to elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance of the new standard to not reassess prior conclusions related to contracts that are or that contain leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. We do not expect that this standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The primary effect of adoption will be the requirement to record the present value of lease liabilities for current operating leases and corresponding right-of-use (ROU) assets. Upon adoption, we estimate we will have additional liabilities ranging from $400 million to $450 million with corresponding ROU assets of a similar amount for lease agreements in effect as of December 31, 2018. The actual impact will depend on our lease portfolio at the time of adoption. We are currently finalizing the implementation of the lease accounting information system, documenting processes, and establishing internal controls to properly track, record and account for our lease portfolio. The new standard also provides practical expedients for the ongoing accounting. We also currently expect to elect the practical expedient to not separate lease and nonlease components for most of our asset classes. In June 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for measuring and recording credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost by replacing the incurred-loss model with an expected-loss model. Accordingly, these financial assets will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This new standard also requires that credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities be recorded as an allowance through net income rather than reducing the carrying amount under the current, other-than-temporary-impairment model. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2020, but may be adopted earlier, beginning on January 1, 2019. With certain exceptions, adjustments are to be applied using a modified-retrospective approach by reflecting adjustments through a cumulative-effect impact on retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We are currently evaluating the impact that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Restructuring

Restructuring	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring	Restructuring In 2014, we initiated a restructuring plan to invest in continuing innovation and the launch of our new pipeline molecules, while improving our cost structure. As part of the plan, we closed facilities in Washington State and Colorado and are reducing the number of buildings we occupy at our headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California, as well as at other locations. We completed the activities associated with this restructuring plan in 2018. Through December 31, 2018 , we incurred $548 million of separation costs and other headcount-related costs for staff reductions and $261 million of net asset-related charges, which consist primarily of asset impairments, accelerated depreciation and other related costs resulting from the consolidation of our worldwide facilities. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, we incurred restructuring costs of $12 million , $88 million and $37 million , respectively. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the restructuring liabilities were not significant.

Business combinations

Business combinations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business combinations	Business combinations Kirin-Amgen, Inc. During the first quarter of 2018, we acquired the remaining 50% ownership of Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (K-A), from Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin), making K-A a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen. Upon its acquisition, K-A’s operations have been included in our consolidated financial statements commencing on the share acquisition date. The acquisition relieved Amgen of future royalty obligations to K-A. Prior to the share acquisition date, we owned 50% of K-A and accounted for our interest in K-A by using the equity method of accounting. See Note 10, Related party transactions. The transaction was accounted for as a step acquisition of a business in which we were required to remeasure our existing 50% ownership interest at fair value. In addition, we were required to effectively settle our preexisting relationship with K-A, which resulted in a loss. Together the gain on the remeasurement of our existing ownership interest and the loss from the settlement of the preexisting relationship resulted in a net gain of $80 million , which was recorded in Interest and other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The primary means of consideration for this transaction was a payment of $780 million in cash. The aggregate share acquisition date consideration to acquire the remaining 50% ownership in K-A and the fair value of Amgen’s preacquisition investment consisted of the following (in millions): Amounts Total cash paid to Kirin $ 780 Fair value of contingent consideration obligation 45 Loss on settlement of preexisting relationship (168 ) Total consideration transferred to acquire K-A 657 Fair value of Amgen’s investment in K-A 825 Total acquisition date fair value $ 1,482 In connection with this acquisition, we are obligated to make single-digit royalty payments to Kirin contingent upon sales of brodalumab. The estimated fair value of this contingent consideration obligation was $45 million as of the share acquisition date. The fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed consisted of cash of $977 million , licensing rights of $470 million , deferred tax liabilities of $102 million , other assets and liabilities of $131 million and goodwill of $6 million . The estimated fair value of acquired licensing rights was determined by using a probability-weighted-income approach, which discounts expected future cash flows to present value by using a discount rate that represents the estimated rate that market participants would use to value the assets. The projected cash flows were based on certain assumptions, including estimates of future revenues and expenses and the time and resources needed to maintain the assets through commercialization. The licensing rights will be amortized over a weighted-average period of four years by using the straight-line method. The excess of the share acquisition date consideration over the fair values assigned to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed of $6 million was recorded as goodwill, which is not deductible for tax purposes. The $131 million in other assets and liabilities represents primarily receivables for royalties earned by K-A but not yet received, offset partially by payables representing R&D expenses incurred but not yet reimbursed by K-A. Pro forma results of operations for this acquisition have not been presented because this acquisition is not material to our consolidated results of operations.

Revenues

Revenues	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenues	Revenues Revenues by product and by geographic area We operate in one business segment: human therapeutics. Therefore, results of our operations are reported on a consolidated basis for purposes of segment reporting, consistent with internal management reporting. Revenues by product and by geographic area, based on customers’ locations, are presented below. Rest-of-world (ROW) revenues relate to products that are sold principally in Europe. Revenues were as follows (in millions): Year ended December 31, 2018 US ROW Total Enbrel ® (etanercept) $ 4,807 $ 207 $ 5,014 Neulasta ® (pegfilgrastim) 3,866 609 4,475 Prolia ® (denosumab) 1,500 791 2,291 Aranesp ® (darbepoetin alfa) 942 935 1,877 XGEVA ® (denosumab) 1,338 448 1,786 Sensipar ® / Mimpara ® (cinacalcet) 1,436 338 1,774 EPOGEN ® (epoetin alfa) 1,010 — 1,010 Other products 2,530 1,776 4,306 Total product sales (1) 17,429 5,104 22,533 Other revenues 929 285 1,214 Total revenues (2) $ 18,358 $ 5,389 $ 23,747 Year ended December 31, 2017 US ROW Total ENBREL $ 5,206 $ 227 $ 5,433 Neulasta ® 3,931 603 4,534 Aranesp ® 1,114 939 2,053 Prolia ® 1,272 696 1,968 Sensipar ® / Mimpara ® 1,374 344 1,718 XGEVA ® 1,157 418 1,575 EPOGEN ® 1,096 — 1,096 Other products 1,981 1,437 3,418 Total product sales (1) 17,131 4,664 21,795 Other revenues 898 156 1,054 Total revenues (2) $ 18,029 $ 4,820 $ 22,849 Year ended December 31, 2016 US ROW Total ENBREL $ 5,719 $ 246 $ 5,965 Neulasta ® 3,925 723 4,648 Aranesp ® 1,082 1,011 2,093 Prolia ® 1,049 586 1,635 Sensipar ® / Mimpara ® 1,240 342 1,582 XGEVA ® 1,115 414 1,529 EPOGEN ® 1,282 — 1,282 Other products 1,913 1,245 3,158 Total product sales (1) 17,325 4,567 21,892 Other revenues 1,001 98 1,099 Total revenues (2) $ 18,326 $ 4,665 $ 22,991 ____________ (1) Hedging gains and losses, which are included in product sales, were not material for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 . For the year ended December 31, 2016 , hedging gains were $308 million . (2) Prior-period amounts are not adjusted under the modified-retrospective method of adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation	Stock-based compensation Our Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the Amended 2009 Plan) authorizes for issuance to employees of Amgen, employees of Amgen subsidiaries and nonemployee members of our Board of Directors shares of our common stock pursuant to grants of equity-based awards, including RSUs, stock options and performance units. The pool of shares available under the Amended 2009 Plan is reduced by one share for each stock option granted and by 1.9 shares for other types of awards granted, including RSUs and performance units (full-value awards). In general, if any shares subject to an award granted under the Amended 2009 Plan expire or become forfeited, terminated or canceled without the issuance of shares, the shares subject to such awards are added back into the authorized pool on the same basis that they were removed. In addition, under the Amended 2009 Plan, shares withheld to pay for minimum statutory tax obligations with respect to full-value awards are added back into the authorized pool on the basis of 1.9 shares. As of December 31, 2018 , the Amended 2009 Plan provides for future grants and/or issuances of up to 32 million shares of our common stock. Stock-based awards under our employee compensation plans are made with newly issued shares reserved for this purpose. The following table reflects the components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 RSUs $ 165 $ 174 $ 177 Performance units 117 133 123 Stock options 29 22 11 Total stock-based compensation expense, pretax 311 329 311 Tax benefit from stock-based compensation expense (67 ) (118 ) (112 ) Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax $ 244 $ 211 $ 199 Restricted stock units and stock options Eligible employees generally receive an annual grant of RSUs and, for certain executive-level employees, stock options, with the size and type of award generally determined by the employee’s salary grade and performance level. In 2016, we reinstated the practice of granting stock options to eligible employees annually, which had been suspended from 2012 through 2015. In addition, certain management and professional-level employees typically receive RSU grants upon commencement of employment. Nonemployee members of our Board of Directors also receive an annual grant of RSUs. Our RSU and stock option grants provide for accelerated or continued vesting in certain circumstances as defined in the plans and related grant agreements, including upon death, disability, termination in connection with a change in control and the retirement of employees who meet certain service and/or age requirements. RSUs and stock options generally vest in equal amounts on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date. RSUs accrue dividend equivalents, which are typically payable in shares, only when and to the extent the underlying RSUs vest and are issued to the recipient. Restricted stock units The grant date fair value of an RSU equals the closing price of our common stock on the grant date, as RSUs accrue dividend equivalents during their vesting period. The weighted-average grant date fair values of RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , were $179.18 , $163.99 and $156.76 , respectively. The following table summarizes information regarding our RSUs: Year ended December 31, 2018 Units (in millions) Weighted-average grant date fair value Balance nonvested at December 31, 2017 3.4 $ 155.11 Granted 1.2 $ 179.18 Vested (1.2 ) $ 142.82 Forfeited (0.3 ) $ 163.36 Balance nonvested at December 31, 2018 3.1 $ 168.11 The total grant date fair values of RSUs that vested during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , were $167 million , $182 million and $193 million , respectively. As of December 31, 2018 , there was $304 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock units and unvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years. Stock options The exercise price of stock options is set as the closing price of our common stock on the grant date, and the related number of shares granted is fixed at that point in time. Awards expire 10 years from the date of grant. We use the Black–Scholes option valuation model to estimate the grant date fair value of stock options. The weighted-average assumptions used in the option valuation model and the resulting weighted-average grant date fair values of stock options granted were as follows: Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Closing price of our common stock on grant date $ 177.46 $ 162.60 $ 156.35 Expected volatility (average of implied and historical volatility) 24.6 % 22.7 % 24.3 % Expected life (in years) 5.8 5.8 5.8 Risk-free interest rate 2.8 % 2.1 % 1.5 % Expected dividend yield 2.9 % 2.8 % 2.6 % Fair value of stock options granted $ 34.60 $ 27.54 $ 27.55 The following table summarizes information regarding our stock options: Year ended December 31, 2018 Options (in millions) Weighted- average exercise price Weighted- average remaining contractual life (in years) Aggregate intrinsic value (in millions) Balance unexercised at December 31, 2017 4.0 $ 127.08 Granted 1.2 $ 177.46 Exercised (0.5 ) $ 76.68 Expired/forfeited (0.3 ) $ 163.79 Balance unexercised at December 31, 2018 4.4 $ 143.57 7.0 $ 225 Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2018 4.2 $ 142.09 6.9 $ 220 Exercisable at December 31, 2018 1.2 $ 84.01 3.3 $ 135 The total intrinsic values of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , were $53 million , $60 million and $102 million , respectively. The actual tax benefits realized from tax deductions from option exercises during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , were $12 million , $21 million and $37 million , respectively. Performance units Certain management-level employees also receive annual grants of performance units, which give the recipient the right to receive common stock that is contingent upon achievement of specified preestablished goals over the performance period, which is generally three years . The performance goals for the units granted during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , which are accounted for as equity awards, are based on (i) Amgen’s stockholder return compared with a comparator group of companies, which are considered market conditions and are therefore reflected in the grant date fair values of the units, and (ii) Amgen’s stand-alone financial performance measures, which are considered performance conditions. The expense recognized for awards is based on the grant date fair value of a unit multiplied by the number of units expected to be earned with respect to the related performance conditions, net of estimated forfeitures. Depending on the outcome of these performance goals, a recipient may ultimately earn a number of units greater or less than the number of units granted. Shares of our common stock are issued on a one-for-one basis for each performance unit earned. In general, performance unit awards vest at the end of the performance period. The performance award program provides for accelerated or continued vesting in certain circumstances as defined in the plan, including upon death, disability, a change in control and retirement of employees who meet certain service and/or age requirements. Performance units accrue dividend equivalents that are typically payable in shares only when and to the extent the underlying performance units vest and are issued to the recipient, including with respect to market and performance conditions that affect the number of performance units earned. We use a payout simulation model to estimate the grant date fair value of performance units. The weighted-average assumptions used in this model and the resulting weighted-average grant date fair values of performance units granted were as follows: Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Closing price of our common stock on grant date $ 177.93 $ 162.60 $ 156.35 Volatility 23.8 % 25.9 % 25.8 % Risk-free interest rate 2.6 % 1.4 % 0.9 % Fair value of units granted $ 189.21 $ 178.87 $ 170.56 The payout simulation model assumes correlations of returns of the stock prices of our common stock and the common stocks of the comparator groups of companies and stock price volatilities of the comparator groups of companies to simulate stockholder returns over the performance periods and their resulting impact on the payout percentages based on the contractual terms of the performance units. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , 2.0 million and 2.2 million performance units were outstanding with weighted-average grant date fair values of $180.12 and $177.16 per unit, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2018 , 0.8 million performance units with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $189.21 were granted, and 0.2 million performance units with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $177.95 were forfeited. The total fair values of performance units that vested during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 were $133 million , $219 million and $347 million , respectively, based on the number of performance units earned multiplied by the closing stock price of our common stock on the last day of the performance period. As of December 31, 2018 , there was $131 million of unrecognized compensation cost, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of one year .

Defined contribution plan

Defined contribution plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Defined contribution plan	Defined contribution plan The Company has defined contribution plans to which employees of the Company and participating subsidiaries may defer compensation for income tax purposes. Participants are eligible to receive matching contributions based on their contributions, in addition to other Company contributions. Defined contribution plan expenses were $173 million , $196 million and $174 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively.

Income taxes

Income taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income taxes	Income taxes On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted major tax reform legislation, Public Law No. 115-97, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017 Tax Act). The 2017 Tax Act imposes a repatriation tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, imposes a current tax on certain foreign earnings and lowers the general corporate income tax rate to 21% . In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which allows us to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date. We have completed our accounting for the tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act, including the repatriation tax, the net deferred tax remeasurement and the impact on our UTBs. None of the adjustments we made to our provisional amounts were material to our consolidated financial statements. Income before income taxes included the following (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Domestic $ 4,856 $ 4,436 $ 4,478 Foreign 4,689 5,161 4,685 Total income before income taxes $ 9,545 $ 9,597 $ 9,163 The provision for income taxes included the following (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Current provision: Federal $ 1,270 $ 8,615 $ 984 State 17 5 65 Foreign 227 275 176 Total current provision 1,514 8,895 1,225 Deferred (benefit) provision: Federal (317 ) (1,120 ) 372 State (7 ) — (69 ) Foreign (39 ) (157 ) (87 ) Total deferred (benefit) provision (363 ) (1,277 ) 216 Total provision for income taxes $ 1,151 $ 7,618 $ 1,441 Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, tax credit carryforwards and the tax effects of net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards. Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Deferred income tax assets: NOL and credit carryforwards $ 810 $ 812 Accrued expenses 428 362 Expenses capitalized for tax 185 155 Stock-based compensation 95 99 Other 174 154 Total deferred income tax assets 1,692 1,582 Valuation allowance (509 ) (497 ) Net deferred income tax assets 1,183 1,085 Deferred income tax liabilities: Acquired intangible assets (1,509 ) (1,748 ) Debt (184 ) (184 ) Other (267 ) (240 ) Total deferred income tax liabilities (1,960 ) (2,172 ) Total deferred income taxes, net $ (777 ) $ (1,087 ) Valuation allowances are provided to reduce the amounts of our deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized based on an assessment of positive and negative evidence, including estimates of future taxable income necessary to realize future deductible amounts. The valuation allowance increased in 2018 due primarily to the Company’s expectation that some state R&D credits will not be utilized. As of December 31, 2018 , we had $20 million of federal tax credit carryforwards available to reduce future federal income taxes and have provided no valuation allowance for those federal tax credit carryforwards. The federal tax credit carryforwards expire between 2026 and 2035. We had $556 million of state tax credit carryforwards available to reduce future state income taxes and have provided a valuation allowance for $444 million of those state tax credit carryforwards. A portion of the state credits for which no valuation allowance has been provided will expire between 2022 and 2024. As of December 31, 2018 , we had $145 million of federal NOL carryforwards available to reduce future federal income taxes and have provided a valuation allowance for $6 million of those federal NOL carryforwards. The federal NOL carryforwards, for which no valuation allowance has been provided, expire between 2020 and 2035. We had $287 million of state NOL carryforwards available to reduce future state income taxes and have provided a valuation allowance for $263 million of those state NOL carryforwards. The state NOLs for which no valuation allowance has been provided expire between 2019 and 2032. We had $1.8 billion of foreign NOL carryforwards available to reduce future foreign income taxes and have provided a valuation allowance for $485 million of those foreign NOL carryforwards. For the foreign NOLs with no valuation allowance provided, $620 million has no expiry; and the remainder will expire between 2019 and 2024. The reconciliations of the total gross amounts of UTBs (excluding interest, penalties, foreign tax credits and the federal tax benefit of state taxes related to UTBs) were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Beginning balance $ 2,953 $ 2,543 $ 2,114 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year 173 447 425 Additions based on tax positions related to prior years 13 1 18 Reductions for tax positions of prior years (17 ) (5 ) (7 ) Reductions for expiration of statute of limitations — (5 ) — Settlements (61 ) (28 ) (7 ) Ending balance $ 3,061 $ 2,953 $ 2,543 Substantially all of the UTBs as of December 31, 2018 , if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. During the year ended December 31, 2018 , we effectively settled various examinations with state tax authorities for prior tax years. As a result of these developments, we remeasured our UTBs accordingly. Interest and penalties related to UTBs are included in our provision for income taxes. During the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , we recognized $137 million , $56 million and $125 million , respectively, of interest and penalties through the income tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , accrued interest and penalties associated with UTBs were $469 million and $332 million , respectively. The reconciliations between the federal statutory tax rate applied to income before income taxes and our effective tax rate were as follows: Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Federal statutory tax rate 21.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % 2017 Tax Act, net repatriation tax — % 70.7 % — % Foreign earnings (4.3 )% (15.8 )% (15.5 )% 2017 Tax Act, net deferred tax remeasurement — % (6.9 )% — % Credits, Puerto Rico Excise Tax (2.5 )% (2.2 )% (2.3 )% 2017 Tax Act, net impact on intercompany sales (1.8 )% — % — % Interest on uncertain tax positions 1.2 % 0.6 % 0.5 % Credits, primarily federal R&D (0.8 )% (0.6 )% (0.7 )% Share-based payments (0.2 )% (0.7 )% (1.3 )% Other, net (0.5 )% (0.7 )% — % Effective tax rate 12.1 % 79.4 % 15.7 % The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2018 differs from the federal statutory rate due primarily to impacts of the jurisdictional mix of income and expenses. The effective tax rate for 2017 differs from the federal statutory rate primarily as a result of the 2017 Tax Act. The effective tax rate for 2016 differs from the federal statutory rate primarily as a result of indefinitely invested earnings of our foreign operations. Substantially all of the benefit to our effective tax rate from foreign earnings results from the Company’s operations conducted in Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States that is treated as a foreign jurisdiction for U.S. tax purposes and is subject to tax incentive grants through 2035; these earnings are also subject to U.S. tax at a reduced 10.5% rate. The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico imposes an excise tax on the gross intercompany purchase price of goods and services from our manufacturer in Puerto Rico. The rate of 4% is effective through December 31, 2027. We account for the excise tax as a manufacturing cost that is capitalized in inventory and expensed in cost of sales when the related products are sold. For U.S. income tax purposes, the excise tax results in foreign tax credits that are generally recognized in our provision for income taxes when the excise tax is incurred. Income taxes paid during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , were $1.9 billion , $1.5 billion and $1.1 billion , respectively. One or more of our legal entities file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various U.S. state jurisdictions and certain foreign jurisdictions. Our income tax returns are routinely examined by the tax authorities in those jurisdictions. Significant disputes may arise with authorities involving issues of the timing and amount of deductions, the use of tax credits and allocations of income and expenses among various tax jurisdictions because of differing interpretations of tax laws, regulations and the interpretation of the relevant facts. As previously disclosed, we received a Revenue Agent Report (RAR) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. The RAR proposes to make significant adjustments that relate primarily to the allocation of profits between certain of our entities in the United States and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. In November 2017, we received a modified RAR that revised the IRS’s calculation but continued to propose substantial adjustments. We disagree with the proposed adjustments and are pursuing resolution with the IRS administrative appeals office, which currently has jurisdiction over the matter. If we deem necessary, we will vigorously contest the proposed adjustments through the judicial process. Final resolution of this complex matter is not likely within the next 12 months and could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. We believe our accrual for income tax liabilities is appropriate based on past experience, interpretations of tax law, and judgments about potential actions by tax authorities; however, due to the complexity of the provision for income taxes, the ultimate resolution of any tax matters may result in payments greater or less than amounts accrued. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for years ended on or before December 31, 2009. In addition, we are currently under examination by a number of other state and foreign tax jurisdictions.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings per share	Earnings per share The computation of basic earnings per share (EPS) is based on the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding. The computation of diluted EPS is based on the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares, which include primarily shares that may be issued under our stock option, restricted stock and performance unit award programs, as determined by using the treasury stock method (collectively, dilutive securities). The computations for basic and diluted EPS were as follows (in millions, except per-share data): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Income (Numerator): Net income for basic and diluted EPS $ 8,394 $ 1,979 $ 7,722 Shares (Denominator): Weighted-average shares for basic EPS 661 731 748 Effect of dilutive securities 4 4 6 Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS 665 735 754 Basic EPS $ 12.70 $ 2.71 $ 10.32 Diluted EPS $ 12.62 $ 2.69 $ 10.24 For each of the three years ended December 31, 2018 , the number of antidilutive employee stock-based awards excluded from the computation of diluted EPS was not significant.

Collaborations

Collaborations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Collaborations	Collaborations A collaborative arrangement is a contractual arrangement that involves a joint operating activity. Such arrangements involve two or more parties that are both (i) active participants in the activity and (ii) exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the activity. From time to time, we enter into collaborative arrangements for the R&D, manufacture and/or commercialization of products and/or product candidates. These collaborations generally provide for nonrefundable upfront license fees, development and commercial-performance milestone payments, cost sharing, royalty payments and/or profit sharing. Our collaboration arrangements are performed with no guarantee of either technological or commercial success, and each is unique in nature. See Note 1, Summary of significant accounting policies, for additional discussion of revenues recognized for these types of arrangements. Operating expenses for costs incurred pursuant to these arrangements are reported in their respective expense line items in the consolidated statements of income, net of any payments due to or reimbursements due from our collaboration partners, with such reimbursements being recognized at the time the party becomes obligated to pay. Our significant arrangements are discussed below. Novartis AG In April 2017, we expanded our existing migraine collaboration with Novartis AG (Novartis). In the United States, Amgen and Novartis jointly develop and collaborate on the commercialization of Aimovig ® (erenumab-aooe). Amgen, as the principal, recognizes product sales of Aimovig ® in the United States, shares U.S. commercialization costs with Novartis and pays Novartis a significant royalty on net sales in the United States. Novartis holds global co-development rights and exclusive commercial rights outside the United States and Japan for Aimovig ® and other specified migraine programs. Novartis pays Amgen double-digit royalties on net sales of the products in the Novartis exclusive territories and funds a portion of global R&D expenses. In addition, Novartis will make a payment to Amgen of up to $100 million if certain commercial and expenditure thresholds are achieved with respect to Aimovig ® in the United States. Amgen manufactures and supplies Aimovig ® worldwide. The migraine collaboration will continue for the commercial lives of the products unless terminated in accordance with its terms. During the year ended December 31, 2018 , net costs paid to Novartis for migraine products were $44 million and were recorded primarily in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , net costs recovered from Novartis for the migraine products were $124 million and $33 million , respectively, and were recorded primarily in Research and development expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. During the year ended December 31, 2018 , royalties due to Novartis for the migraine products were $43 million and were recorded in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As a result of certain regulatory and commercial events, we received milestone payments from Novartis of $295 million and $60 million during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively, which were recorded in Other revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income. UCB We are in a collaboration with UCB for the development and commercialization of EVENITY TM (romosozumab). Under our collaboration, UCB has the rights to lead commercialization for EVENITY TM for all indications in Europe, China (excluding Hong Kong) and Brazil. All other territories have been allocated to Amgen. Generally, development costs and future worldwide commercialization profits and losses related to the collaboration after accounting for expenses are shared equally. The collaboration agreement will continue in effect unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. During the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , net costs recovered from UCB were not material and were recorded primarily in Research and development expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. We are in a collaboration with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Bayer) to jointly develop and commercialize Nexavar ® (sorafenib) worldwide, except in Japan. The rights to develop and market Nexavar ® in Japan are reserved to Bayer. Nexavar ® is currently marketed and sold in more than 100 countries around the world for the treatment of unresectable liver cancer and advanced kidney cancer. In the United States, Nexavar ® is also approved for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, differentiated thyroid carcinoma refractory to radioactive iodine treatment. In 2015, we amended the terms of our collaboration agreement with Bayer, which terminated the co-promotion agreement in the United States and transferred all U.S. operational responsibilities to Bayer, including commercial and medical affairs activities. Prior to the termination of the co-promotion agreement, we co-promoted Nexavar ® with Bayer and shared equally in the profits or losses in the United States. In lieu of this profit share, Bayer now pays Amgen a royalty on U.S. sales of Nexavar ® at a percentage rate in the high 30 s. Amgen no longer contributes sales force personnel or medical liaisons to support Nexavar ® in the United States. There are no changes to the global R&D or non-U.S. profit share arrangements in the original agreement, as discussed below. In all countries outside the United States, excluding Japan, Bayer manages all commercialization activities and incurs all of the sales and marketing expenditures and mutually agreed R&D expenses, for which we continue to reimburse Bayer for half. In these countries, we continue to receive 50% of net profits on sales of Nexavar ® after deducting certain Bayer-related costs. The agreement with Bayer will terminate at the later of the date when patents expire that were issued in connection with product candidates discovered under the agreement or on the last day that we or Bayer market or sell products commercialized under the agreement anywhere in the world. Patents related to Nexavar ® begin to expire in 2020. During the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , Amgen recorded Nexavar ® net profits of $164 million , $161 million and $167 million , respectively, which were recognized as Other revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income. During the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , Amgen recorded royalty income of $91 million , $133 million and $137 million , respectively, in Other revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income, pursuant to the 2015 amendment to the collaboration agreement. Net R&D expenses related to the agreement were not material for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 . Other In addition to the collaborations discussed above, we have various others that are not individually significant to our business at this time. Pursuant to the terms of those agreements, we may be required to pay or we may receive additional amounts upon the achievement of various development and commercial milestones, which in the aggregate could be significant. We may also incur or have reimbursed to us significant R&D costs if the related product candidate were to advance to late-stage clinical trials. In addition, if any products related to these collaborations are approved for sale, we may be required to pay or we may receive significant royalties on future sales. The payment of these amounts, however, is contingent upon the occurrence of various future events, which have a high degree of uncertainty of occurrence.

Related party transactions

Related party transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related party transactions	Related party transactions As of December 31, 2017, we owned a 50% interest in K-A, a corporation formed in 1984 with Kirin for the development and commercialization of certain products based on advanced biotechnology. All of our rights to manufacture and market certain products including pegfilgrastim, filgrastim, darbepoetin alfa, recombinant human erythropoietin and romiplostim are pursuant to exclusive licenses from K-A, which we currently market under the brand names Neulasta ® , NEUPOGEN ® (filgrastim) /GRANULOKINE ® , Aranesp ® , EPOGEN ® and Nplate ® (romiplostim), respectively. During the first quarter of 2018, we acquired the remaining 50% ownership of K-A from Kirin, making K-A a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen. The transaction was accounted for as a business combination. K-A’s results of operations are now included in our consolidated financial statements, and as a result, transactions between us and K-A are eliminated in consolidation. See Note 3, Business combinations. License agreements with Kirin and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) remain in place. Prior to the share acquisition, we accounted for our interest in K-A using the equity method and included our share of K-A’s profits or losses in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Our share of K-A’s profits was insignificant for the period January 1, 2018 through the 2018 share acquisition date. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , our share of K-A’s profits was $68 million and $58 million , respectively. The carrying value of our equity method investment in K-A was $570 million as of December 31, 2017 , and is included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. K-A’s revenues consist of royalty income related to its licensed technology rights. Prior to the share acquisition, K-A received royalty income from us. K-A also received and continues to receive royalty income from Kirin and J&J under separate product license contracts for certain geographic areas outside the United States. Royalties earned by K-A from us were insignificant for the period January 1, 2018 through the 2018 share acquisition date. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , K-A earned royalties from us of $221 million and $239 million , respectively. These amounts are included in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. K-A’s expenses consist primarily of costs related to R&D activities conducted on its behalf by us through the 2018 share acquisition and by Kirin. Payment for these services is based on negotiated rates. Revenues from K-A for certain R&D activities performed on K-A’s behalf were insignificant for the period January 1, 2018 through the 2018 share acquisition date. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , we earned revenues from K-A of $28 million and $31 million , respectively, for certain R&D activities performed on K-A’s behalf. These amounts were recognized as Other revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Cost recoveries from K-A recorded during the period January 1, 2018 through the 2018 share acquisition date and the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, were insignificant. These amounts are included in Research and development expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2017 , we owed K-A $80 million , which is included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Investments

Investments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investments	Investments Available-for-sale investments The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair values of available-for-sale investments by type of security were as follows (in millions): Types of securities as of December 31, 2018 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair values U.S. Treasury notes $ 2,710 $ — $ (47 ) $ 2,663 U.S. Treasury bills 8,191 — — 8,191 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. 112 — (2 ) 110 Foreign and other 972 1 (41 ) 932 Corporate debt securities: Financial 2,778 — (81 ) 2,697 Industrial 2,603 — (99 ) 2,504 Other 583 — (21 ) 562 Residential-mortgage-backed securities 1,458 — (36 ) 1,422 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 483 — (14 ) 469 Money market mutual funds 5,659 — — 5,659 Other short-term interest-bearing securities 3,515 — — 3,515 Total available-for-sale investments $ 29,064 $ 1 $ (341 ) $ 28,724 Types of securities as of December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair values U.S. Treasury notes $ 8,313 $ 1 $ (72 ) $ 8,242 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. 225 — (2 ) 223 Foreign and other 2,415 18 (11 ) 2,422 Corporate debt securities: Financial 10,089 17 (34 ) 10,072 Industrial 9,688 34 (52 ) 9,670 Other 1,393 3 (6 ) 1,390 Residential-mortgage-backed securities 2,198 — (30 ) 2,168 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 2,312 — (15 ) 2,297 Money market mutual funds 3,245 — — 3,245 Other short-term interest-bearing securities 1,440 — — 1,440 Total interest-bearing securities 41,318 73 (222 ) 41,169 Equity securities 135 14 — 149 Total available-for-sale investments $ 41,453 $ 87 $ (222 ) $ 41,318 The fair values of available-for-sale investments by location in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (in millions): December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets locations 2018 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,365 $ 3,291 Marketable securities 22,359 37,878 Other assets — 149 Total available-for-sale investments $ 28,724 $ 41,318 Cash and cash equivalents in the above table excludes bank account cash of $580 million and $509 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Other assets as of December 31, 2017, consisted of equity securities, which are no longer classified as available-for-sale. As a result of the adoption of the new accounting standard related to the classification and measurement of financial instruments on January 1, 2018, equity investments (except for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting) are now measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. These investments were previously measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in AOCI. Accordingly, these securities are no longer classified as available-for-sale and their presentation is not comparable to the presentation as of December 31, 2017. See Equity securities, discussed below, and Note 1, Summary of significant accounting policies. The fair values of available-for-sale interest-bearing security investments by contractual maturity, except for mortgage- and asset-backed securities that do not have a single maturity date, were as follows (in millions): December 31, Contractual maturities 2018 2017 Maturing in one year or less $ 17,424 $ 6,733 Maturing after one year through three years 3,356 12,820 Maturing after three years through five years 5,168 13,836 Maturing after five years through ten years 885 3,263 Maturing after ten years — 52 Mortgage- and asset-backed securities 1,891 4,465 Total interest-bearing securities $ 28,724 $ 41,169 For the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , realized gains on interest-bearing securities were $29 million , $147 million and $304 million , respectively, and realized losses on interest-bearing securities were $394 million , $213 million and $367 million , respectively. Realized gains and losses on interest-bearing securities are recorded in Interest and other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. The fair values and gross unrealized losses of available-for-sale investments in an unrealized loss position aggregated by type and length of time that the securities have been in a continuous loss position were as follows (in millions): Less than 12 months 12 months or more Types of securities as of December 31, 2018 Fair values Unrealized losses Fair values Unrealized losses U.S. Treasury notes $ 1,219 $ (21 ) $ 1,444 $ (26 ) Other government-related debt securities: U.S. — — 110 (2 ) Foreign and other 631 (31 ) 240 (10 ) Corporate debt securities: Financial 1,968 (59 ) 718 (22 ) Industrial 1,898 (81 ) 529 (18 ) Other 529 (20 ) 28 (1 ) Residential-mortgage-backed securities 576 (14 ) 840 (22 ) Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 17 — 451 (14 ) Total $ 6,838 $ (226 ) $ 4,360 $ (115 ) Less than 12 months 12 months or more Types of securities as of December 31, 2017 Fair values Unrealized losses Fair values Unrealized losses U.S. Treasury notes $ 7,728 $ (70 ) $ 195 $ (2 ) Other government-related debt securities: U.S. 188 (1 ) 34 (1 ) Foreign and other 1,163 (9 ) 115 (2 ) Corporate debt securities: Financial 5,928 (28 ) 462 (6 ) Industrial 5,760 (43 ) 612 (9 ) Other 868 (4 ) 117 (2 ) Residential-mortgage-backed securities 1,838 (24 ) 276 (6 ) Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 1,777 (12 ) 250 (3 ) Total $ 25,250 $ (191 ) $ 2,061 $ (31 ) The primary objective of our investment portfolio is to enhance overall returns in an efficient manner while maintaining safety of principal, prudent levels of liquidity and acceptable levels of risk. Our investment policy limits interest-bearing security investments to certain types of debt and money market instruments issued by institutions with primarily investment-grade credit ratings, and it places restrictions on maturities and concentration by asset class and issuer. We review our available-for-sale investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value below our cost basis each quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the cost basis of an asset may not be recoverable. The evaluation is based on a number of factors, including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been below our cost basis, as well as adverse conditions related specifically to the security such as any changes to the credit rating of the security and the intent to sell or whether we will more likely than not be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Our assessment of whether a security is other-than-temporarily impaired could change in the future based on new developments or changes in assumptions related to that particular security. As of December 31, 2018, unrealized losses on available-for-sale investments were due primarily to higher interest rates on that date than at the time the securities were purchased. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , we believe the cost bases for our available-for-sale investments were recoverable in all material respects. Equity securities We held investments in equity securities with readily determinable fair values of $176 million and $149 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As a result of the adoption of the new accounting standard related to the classification and measurement of financial instruments on January 1, 2018, equity investments (except for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting) are now measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. These investments were previously measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in AOCI. Accordingly, these securities are no longer classified as available-for-sale and their presentation is not comparable to the presentation as of December 31, 2017. See Available-for-sale investments, discussed above, and Note 1, Summary of significant accounting policies. Gains and losses recognized on equity securities with readily determinable fair values, including gains and losses recognized on sales, were not material for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. We held investments in equity securities without readily determinable fair values of $222 million and $95 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Adjustments to the carrying values of these securities were not material for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. Limited partnership investments We held limited partnership investments of $285 million and $213 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These investments are measured by using the net asset values of the underlying investments as a practical expedient. These investments are typically redeemable only through distributions upon liquidation of the underlying assets. As of December 31, 2018, unfunded additional commitments to be made during the next several years for these investments were not material. Gains and losses recognized on our limited partnership investments were not material for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories Inventories consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Raw materials $ 257 $ 232 Work in process 1,660 1,668 Finished goods 1,023 934 Total inventories $ 2,940 $ 2,834

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment	Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (dollar amounts in millions): December 31, Useful life (in years) 2018 2017 Land — $ 265 $ 283 Buildings and improvements 10-40 3,616 3,507 Manufacturing equipment 8-12 2,418 2,372 Laboratory equipment 8-12 1,174 1,179 Capitalized software 3-5 1,124 1,150 Other 3-15 3,204 3,254 Construction in progress — 953 834 Property, plant and equipment, gross 12,754 12,579 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (7,796 ) (7,590 ) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 4,958 $ 4,989 During the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , we recognized depreciation and amortization expense associated with our property, plant and equipment of $630 million , $604 million and $619 million , respectively. Geographic information Certain geographic information with respect to property, plant and equipment, net (long-lived assets), was as follows (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 United States $ 2,373 $ 2,349 Puerto Rico 1,476 1,527 ROW 1,109 1,113 Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 4,958 $ 4,989

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill and intangible assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and other intangible assets	Goodwill and other intangible assets Goodwill The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 Beginning balance $ 14,761 $ 14,751 Addition from K-A acquisition 6 — Currency translation adjustments (68 ) 10 Ending balance $ 14,699 $ 14,761 Other intangible assets Other intangible assets consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 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 $ 12,573 $ (7,479 ) $ 5,094 $ 12,589 $ (6,796 ) $ 5,793 Licensing rights 3,772 (2,032 ) 1,740 3,275 (1,601 ) 1,674 Marketing-related rights 1,297 (1,019 ) 278 1,319 (920 ) 399 R&D technology rights 1,148 (872 ) 276 1,161 (804 ) 357 Total finite-lived intangible assets 18,790 (11,402 ) 7,388 18,344 (10,121 ) 8,223 Indefinite-lived intangible assets: IPR&D 55 — 55 386 — 386 Total other intangible assets $ 18,845 $ (11,402 ) $ 7,443 $ 18,730 $ (10,121 ) $ 8,609 Developed-product-technology rights consist of rights related to marketed products acquired in business combinations. Licensing rights consist primarily of contractual rights acquired in business combinations to receive future milestone, royalty and profit-sharing payments; capitalized payments to third parties for milestones related to regulatory approvals to commercialize products; and upfront payments associated with royalty obligations for marketed products. Licensing rights increased in 2018 due to the K-A share acquisition. See Note 3, Business combinations. Marketing-related rights assets consist primarily of rights related to the sale and distribution of marketed products. R&D technology rights consist of technology used in R&D with 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. During 2018, we discontinued the internal development of a non-key program, resulting in an impairment charge of $330 million , which was recognized in Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income and included in Other items, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. 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 value, 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, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , we recognized amortization expenses associated with our finite-lived intangible assets of $1.3 billion , $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion , respectively. Amortization of intangible assets is included primarily in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The total estimated amortization expenses for our finite-lived intangible assets for each of the next five years are $1.3 billion , $1.2 billion , $1.0 billion , $0.9 billion and $0.9 billion in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Accrued liabilities

Accrued liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued liabilities	Accrued liabilities Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Sales deductions $ 3,170 $ 2,247 Employee compensation and benefits 1,001 816 Dividends payable 914 953 Sales returns reserve 535 455 Other 2,242 2,045 Total accrued liabilities $ 7,862 $ 6,516

Financing arrangements

Financing arrangements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Financing arrangements	Financing arrangements Our borrowings consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 6.15% notes due 2018 (6.15% 2018 Notes) $ — $ 500 4.375% €550 million notes due 2018 (4.375% 2018 euro Notes) — 653 5.70% notes due 2019 (5.70% 2019 Notes) 1,000 1,000 1.90% notes due 2019 (1.90% 2019 Notes) 700 700 Floating Rate Notes due 2019 550 550 2.20% notes due 2019 (2.20% 2019 Notes) 1,400 1,400 2.125% €675 million notes due 2019 (2.125% 2019 euro Notes) 774 810 4.50% notes due 2020 (4.50% 2020 Notes) 300 300 2.125% notes due 2020 (2.125% 2020 Notes) 750 750 Floating Rate Notes due 2020 300 300 2.20% notes due 2020 (2.20% 2020 Notes) 700 700 3.45% notes due 2020 (3.45% 2020 Notes) 900 900 4.10% notes due 2021 (4.10% 2021 Notes) 1,000 1,000 1.85% notes due 2021 (1.85% 2021 Notes) 750 750 3.875% notes due 2021 (3.875% 2021 Notes) 1,750 1,750 1.25% €1,250 million notes due 2022 (1.25% 2022 euro Notes) 1,433 1,501 2.70% notes due 2022 (2.70% 2022 Notes) 500 500 2.65% notes due 2022 (2.65% 2022 Notes) 1,500 1,500 3.625% notes due 2022 (3.625% 2022 Notes) 750 750 0.41% CHF700 million bonds due 2023 (0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds) 713 719 2.25% notes due 2023 (2.25% 2023 Notes) 750 750 3.625% notes due 2024 (3.625% 2024 Notes) 1,400 1,400 3.125% notes due 2025 (3.125% 2025 Notes) 1,000 1,000 2.00% €750 million notes due 2026 (2.00% 2026 euro Notes) 860 901 2.60% notes due 2026 (2.60% 2026 Notes) 1,250 1,250 5.50% £475 million notes due 2026 (5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes) 606 642 3.20% notes due 2027 (3.20% 2027 Notes) 1,000 1,000 4.00% £700 million notes due 2029 (4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes) 893 946 6.375% notes due 2037 (6.375% 2037 Notes) 552 552 6.90% notes due 2038 (6.90% 2038 Notes) 291 291 6.40% notes due 2039 (6.40% 2039 Notes) 466 466 5.75% notes due 2040 (5.75% 2040 Notes) 412 412 4.95% notes due 2041 (4.95% 2041 Notes) 600 600 5.15% notes due 2041 (5.15% 2041 Notes) 974 974 5.65% notes due 2042 (5.65% 2042 Notes) 487 487 5.375% notes due 2043 (5.375% 2043 Notes) 261 261 4.40% notes due 2045 (4.40% 2045 Notes) 2,250 2,250 4.563% notes due 2048 (4.563% 2048 Notes) 1,415 1,415 4.663% notes due 2051 (4.663% 2051 Notes) 3,541 3,541 Other notes due 2097 100 100 Unamortized discounts, premiums, issuance costs and fair value adjustments, net (949 ) (929 ) Total carrying value of debt 33,929 35,342 Less current portion (4,419 ) (1,152 ) Total long-term debt $ 29,510 $ 34,190 There are no material differences between the effective interest rates and coupon rates of any of our borrowings, except for the 4.563% 2048 Notes and the 4.663% 2051 Notes, which have effective interest rates of 6.3% and 5.6% , respectively. Under the terms of all of our outstanding notes—including debt exchange issuances, discussed below, and except our Other notes due 2097—in the event of a change-in-control triggering event we may be required to purchase all or a portion of these debt securities at prices equal to 101% of the principal amounts of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, all of our outstanding notes—except our floating-rate notes, 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds and Other notes due 2097—may be redeemed at any time at our option—in whole or in part—at the principal amounts of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest and make-whole amounts, which are defined by the terms of the notes. Certain of the redeemable notes do not require the payment of make-whole amounts if redeemed during a specified period of time immediately prior to the maturity of the notes. Such time periods range from one to six months prior to maturity. Debt issuances We did not issue any debt or debt securities during the year ended December 31, 2018 . We issued debt and debt securities in various offerings during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 as follows: • In 2017, we issued $4.5 billion principal amount of notes, consisting of the Floating Rate Notes due 2019, the 1.90% 2019 Notes, the Floating Rate Notes due 2020, the 2.20% 2020 Notes, the 2.65% 2022 Notes and the 3.20% 2027 Notes. • In 2016, we issued $6.7 billion principal amount of notes, consisting of the 1.85% 2021 Notes, the 1.25% 2022 euro Notes, the 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds, the 2.25% 2023 Notes, the 2.00% 2026 euro Notes and the 2.60% 2026 Notes and $1.0 billion of the 4.40% 2045 Notes. We received a $79 million premium on the 4.40% 2045 Notes. In addition, we borrowed $605 million under a short-term floating-rate loan. As of December 31, 2018 , we have a commercial paper program that allows us to issue up to $2.5 billion of unsecured commercial paper to fund our working-capital needs. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we issued and repaid an aggregate of $12.3 billion of commercial paper and had a maximum outstanding balance of $1.5 billion under our commercial paper program. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2016, we did not issue any commercial paper. No commercial paper was outstanding as of December 31, 2018 or 2017. Debt repayments In 2018, we repaid $1.1 billion of debt, including the $500 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.15% 2018 Notes and the €550 million aggregate principal amount of the 4.375% 2018 Notes revalued at $621 million upon maturity. In 2017, we repaid $4.4 billion of debt, including the $605 million short-term floating-rate loan, the $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of the 2.125% 2017 Notes, the $600 million aggregate principal amount of the Floating Rate Notes due 2017, the $850 million aggregate principal amount of the 1.25% 2017 Notes and the $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of the 5.85% 2017 Notes. In 2016, we repaid $3.7 billion of debt, including the remaining $1.975 billion of principal on a term loan credit facility, the $750 million aggregate principal amount of the 2.30% 2016 Notes and the $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of the 2.50% 2016 Notes. Debt exchange During 2016, we completed a private offering to exchange portions of certain outstanding senior notes due 2037 through 2043 (collectively, the Old Notes), for new senior notes, consisting of principal amounts of $1.4 billion of 4.563% 2048 Notes and $3.5 billion of 4.663% 2051 Notes (collectively, the New Notes). The New Notes bear lower fixed-coupon rates while requiring higher principal repayments on extended maturity dates compared with the Old Notes that were exchanged. There were no other significant changes to the terms between the Old Notes and the New Notes. The exchange was accounted for as a debt modification, and there were no cash payments to or cash receipts from the noteholders as a result of the exchange. Existing deferred financing costs associated with the Old Notes as well as discounts associated with the New Notes aggregating $801 million are being accreted over the term of the New Notes and recorded as Interest expense, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Transaction costs of $24 million incurred for the exchange were expensed immediately in Interest and other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Interest rate swaps To achieve a desired mix of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt, we entered into interest rate swap contracts that effectively converted fixed-rate interest coupons for certain of our debt issuances to floating London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)-based coupons over the lives of the respective notes. These interest rate swap contracts qualified and are designated as fair value hedges. The effective interest rates on notes for which we have entered into interest rate swap contracts and the related notional amounts of these contracts were as follows (dollar amounts in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Notes Effective interest rates Notional amounts 2.20% 2019 Notes LIBOR + 0.6% $ 1,400 $ 1,400 3.45% 2020 Notes LIBOR + 1.1% 900 900 4.10% 2021 Notes LIBOR + 1.7% 1,000 1,000 3.875% 2021 Notes LIBOR + 2.0% 1,750 1,750 3.625% 2022 Notes LIBOR + 1.6% 750 750 3.625% 2024 Notes LIBOR + 1.4% 1,400 1,400 3.125% 2025 Notes LIBOR + 0.9% 1,000 1,000 2.600% 2026 Notes LIBOR + 0.3% 1,250 1,250 4.663% 2051 Notes LIBOR + 0.0% 1,500 — Total notional amounts $ 10,950 $ 9,450 Cross-currency swaps In order to hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with certain of our long-term notes denominated in foreign currencies, we entered into cross-currency swap contracts. The terms of these contracts effectively convert the interest payments and principal repayment on our 2.125% 2019 euro Notes, 1.25% 2022 euro Notes, 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds, 2.00% 2026 euro Notes, 5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes and 4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes from euros, pounds sterling and Swiss francs to U.S. dollars. These cross-currency swap contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges. For information regarding the terms of these contracts, see Note 19, Derivative instruments. Shelf registration statements and other facilities In 2014, we entered into a $2.5 billion syndicated, unsecured, revolving credit agreement, which is available for general corporate purposes or as a liquidity backstop to our commercial paper program. The commitments under the revolving credit agreement may be increased by up to $500 million with the agreement of the banks. Each bank that is a party to the agreement has an initial commitment term of five years. We extended this term by one year during 2016 and may extend the term for an additional year with the agreement of the banks. Annual commitment fees for this agreement are 0.09% of the unused portion of the facility based on our current credit rating. Generally, we would be charged interest at LIBOR plus 1% for any amounts borrowed under this facility. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , no amounts were outstanding under this facility. In 2017, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that allows us to issue unspecified amounts of debt securities; common stock; preferred stock; warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares; rights to purchase common stock or preferred stock; securities purchase contracts; securities purchase units; and depositary shares. Under this shelf registration statement, all of the securities available for issuance may be offered from time to time with terms to be determined at the time of issuance. This shelf registration statement expires in February 2020. Certain of our financing arrangements contain nonfinancial covenants. In addition, our revolving credit agreement includes a financial covenant, which was modified during 2018. The modified covenant requires that we maintain a specified minimum interest coverage ratio of (i) the sum of consolidated net income, interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation expense, amortization expense, unusual or nonrecurring charges and other noncash items (Consolidated EBITDA) to (ii) Consolidated Interest expense, each as defined and described in the amended credit agreement. We were in compliance with all applicable covenants under these arrangements as of December 31, 2018 . Contractual maturities of debt obligations The aggregate contractual maturities of all borrowings due subsequent to December 31, 2018 , are as follows (in millions): Maturity dates Amounts 2019 $ 4,424 2020 2,950 2021 3,500 2022 4,183 2023 1,463 Thereafter 18,358 Total $ 34,878 Interest costs Interest costs are expensed as incurred except to the extent such interest is related to construction in progress, in which case interest is capitalized. Interest costs capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , were not material. Interest paid, including the ongoing impact of interest rate and cross-currency swap contracts, during the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , was $1.5 billion , $1.3 billion and $1.2 billion , respectively.

Stockholders' equity

Stockholders' equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' equity	Stockholders’ equity Stock repurchase program Activity under our stock repurchase program, on a trade date basis, was as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Shares * Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars First quarter 56.4 $ 10,787 3.4 $ 555 4.7 $ 690 Second quarter 18.2 3,190 6.2 1,006 3.9 591 Third quarter 8.7 1,713 4.4 769 4.4 747 Fourth quarter 11.1 2,165 4.5 796 6.7 999 Total stock repurchases 94.5 $ 17,855 18.5 $ 3,126 19.7 $ 3,027 * Total shares do not add due to rounding. In January, April and December 2018, our Board of Directors increased the amount authorized under our stock repurchase program by $10.0 billion , $5.0 billion and $3.6 billion , respectively. Repurchase activity for the year ended December 31, 2018, included 52.1 million shares of our common stock acquired under a tender offer at an aggregate cost of $10.0 billion . As of December 31, 2018 , $5.1 billion remained available under our stock repurchase program. Dividends Our Board of Directors declared quarterly dividends per share of $1.32 , $1.15 and $1.00 , which were paid in each of the four quarters of 2018 , 2017 , and 2016 , respectively. Historically, we have declared dividends in December of each year, which were paid in the first quarter of the following fiscal year, and in March, July and October, which were paid in the second, third and fourth quarters, respectively, of the same fiscal year. Additionally, on December 7, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.45 per share of common stock, which will be paid on March 8, 2019, to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2019. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) The components of AOCI were as follows (in millions): Foreign currency translation Cash flow hedges Available-for-sale securities Other AOCI Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ (511 ) $ 297 $ (260 ) $ (6 ) $ (480 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments (93 ) — — — (93 ) Unrealized (losses) gains — (176 ) 63 — (113 ) Reclassification adjustments to income — 139 61 — 200 Other — — — 1 1 Income taxes (6 ) 22 (2 ) — 14 Balance as of December 31, 2016 (610 ) 282 (138 ) (5 ) (471 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments 77 — — — 77 Unrealized gains (losses) — 192 (46 ) — 146 Reclassification adjustments to income — (638 ) 41 — (597 ) Other — — — 5 5 Income taxes 4 158 (1 ) — 161 Balance as of December 31, 2017 (529 ) (6 ) (144 ) — (679 ) Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax (1) — — (9 ) — (9 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments (141 ) — — — (141 ) Unrealized gains (losses) — 61 (556 ) — (495 ) Reclassification adjustments to income — 262 365 — 627 Other — — — (2 ) (2 ) Income taxes — (76 ) 6 — (70 ) Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ (670 ) $ 241 $ (338 ) $ (2 ) $ (769 ) ____________ (1) See Note 1, Summary of significant accounting policies, for additional information regarding the adoption on January 1, 2018, of the new accounting standard related to the classification and measurement of financial instruments and the related cumulative effect from the change in accounting principle. With respect to the table above, income tax expenses or benefits for unrealized gains and losses and the related reclassification adjustments to income for cash flow hedges were a $21 million expense and $55 million expense in 2018 , a $68 million expense and $226 million benefit in 2017 and a $68 million benefit and $46 million expense in 2016 , respectively. Income tax expenses or benefits for unrealized gains and losses and the related reclassification adjustments to income for available-for-sale securities were a $9 million benefit and $3 million expense for 2018 , a $9 million expense and $8 million benefit in 2017 and a $9 million benefit and $11 million expense in 2016 , respectively. Reclassifications out of AOCI and into earnings were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Components of AOCI 2018 2017 2016 Consolidated Statements of Income locations Cash flow hedges: Foreign currency contract (losses) gains $ (21 ) $ 65 $ 308 Product sales Cross-currency swap contract (losses) gains (241 ) 574 (446 ) Interest and other income, net Forward interest rate contract losses — (1 ) (1 ) Interest expense, net (262 ) 638 (139 ) Income before income taxes 55 (226 ) 46 Provision for income taxes $ (207 ) $ 412 $ (93 ) Net income Available-for-sale securities: Net realized losses $ (365 ) $ (41 ) $ (61 ) Interest and other income, net 3 (8 ) 11 Provision for income taxes $ (362 ) $ (49 ) $ (50 ) Net income Other In addition to common stock, our authorized capital includes 5 million shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding.

Fair value measurement

Fair value measurement	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value measurement	Fair value measurement To estimate the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, we use valuation approaches within a hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is divided into three levels based on the source of inputs as follows: Level 1 — Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access Level 2 — Valuations for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly—other than Level 1 inputs Level 3 — Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement The availability of observable inputs can vary among the various types of financial assets and liabilities. To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. In certain cases, the inputs used for measuring fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for financial statement disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level of input used that is significant to the overall fair value measurement. The fair values of each major class of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions): Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2018, using: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) Total Assets: Interest-bearing securities: U.S. Treasury notes $ 2,663 $ — $ — $ 2,663 U.S. Treasury bills 8,191 — — 8,191 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. — 110 — 110 Foreign and other — 932 — 932 Corporate debt securities: Financial — 2,697 — 2,697 Industrial — 2,504 — 2,504 Other — 562 — 562 Residential-mortgage-backed securities — 1,422 — 1,422 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities — 469 — 469 Money market mutual funds 5,659 — — 5,659 Other short-term interest-bearing securities — 3,515 — 3,515 Equity securities 176 — — 176 Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts — 182 — 182 Cross-currency swap contracts — 170 — 170 Interest rate swap contracts — 56 — 56 Total assets $ 16,689 $ 12,619 $ — $ 29,308 Liabilities: Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts $ — $ 26 $ — $ 26 Cross-currency swap contracts — 401 — 401 Interest rate swap contracts — 149 — 149 Contingent consideration obligations — — 72 72 Total liabilities $ — $ 576 $ 72 $ 648 Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2017, using: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) Total Assets: Interest-bearing securities: U.S. Treasury notes $ 8,242 $ — $ — $ 8,242 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. — 223 — 223 Foreign and other — 2,422 — 2,422 Corporate debt securities: Financial — 10,072 — 10,072 Industrial — 9,670 — 9,670 Other — 1,390 — 1,390 Residential-mortgage-backed securities — 2,168 — 2,168 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities — 2,297 — 2,297 Money market mutual funds 3,245 — — 3,245 Other short-term interest-bearing securities — 1,440 — 1,440 Equity securities 149 — — 149 Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts — 6 — 6 Cross-currency swap contracts — 270 — 270 Interest rate swap contracts — 10 — 10 Total assets $ 11,636 $ 29,968 $ — $ 41,604 Liabilities: Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts $ — $ 204 $ — $ 204 Cross-currency swap contracts — 220 — 220 Interest rate swap contracts — 61 — 61 Contingent consideration obligations — — 69 69 Total liabilities $ — $ 485 $ 69 $ 554 Interest-bearing and equity securities The fair values of our U.S. Treasury securities, money market mutual funds and equity securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets, with no valuation adjustment. Most of our other government-related and corporate debt securities are investment grade and have maturity dates of five years or less from the balance sheet date. Our other government-related debt securities portfolio is composed of securities with weighted-average credit ratings of A– or equivalent by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) or Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch); and our corporate debt securities portfolio has weighted-average credit ratings of A– or equivalent by Fitch and BBB + or equivalent by S&P or Moody’s. We estimate the fair values of these securities by taking into consideration valuations obtained from third-party pricing services. The pricing services use industry-standard valuation models, including both income- and market-based approaches, for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly to estimate fair value. The inputs include reported trades of and broker-dealer quotes on the same or similar securities; issuer credit spreads; benchmark securities; and other observable inputs. Our residential-mortgage-, other-mortgage- and asset-backed-securities portfolio is composed entirely of senior tranches with credit ratings of AAA by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. We estimate the fair values of these securities by taking into consideration valuations obtained from third-party pricing services. The pricing services use industry-standard valuation models, including both income- and market-based approaches, for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly to estimate fair value. The inputs include reported trades of and broker-dealer quotes on the same or similar securities; issuer credit spreads; benchmark securities; prepayment or default projections based on historical data; and other observable inputs. We value our other short-term interest-bearing securities at amortized cost, which approximates fair value given their near-term maturity dates. Derivatives All of our foreign currency forward and option derivative contracts have maturities of three years or less, and all are with counterparties that have minimum credit ratings of A– or equivalent by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. We estimate the fair values of these contracts by taking into consideration valuations obtained from a third-party valuation service that uses an income-based industry-standard valuation model for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs include foreign currency exchange rates, LIBOR, swap rates and obligor credit default swap rates. In addition, inputs for our foreign currency option contracts include implied volatility measures. These inputs, where applicable, are at commonly quoted intervals. See Note 19, Derivative instruments. Our cross-currency swap contracts are with counterparties that have minimum credit ratings of A– or equivalent by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. We estimate the fair values of these contracts by taking into consideration valuations obtained from a third-party valuation service that uses an income-based industry-standard valuation model for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs include foreign currency exchange rates, LIBOR, swap rates, obligor credit default swap rates and cross-currency basis swap spreads. See Note 19, Derivative instruments. Our interest rate swap contracts are with counterparties that have minimum credit ratings of A– or equivalent by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. We estimate the fair values of these contracts by using an income-based industry-standard valuation model for which all significant inputs are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs include LIBOR, swap rates and obligor credit default swap rates. See Note 19, Derivative instruments. Contingent consideration obligations As a result of our business acquisitions, we have incurred contingent consideration obligations, as discussed below. The contingent consideration obligations are recorded at their fair values by using probability-adjusted discounted cash flows, and we revalue these obligations each reporting period until the related contingencies have been resolved. The fair value measurements of these obligations are based on significant unobservable inputs related to licensing rights and product candidates acquired in business combinations, and are reviewed quarterly by management in our R&D and commercial sales organizations. These inputs include, as applicable, estimated probabilities and the timing of achieving specified regulatory and commercial milestones as well as estimated annual sales. Significant changes that increase or decrease the probabilities of achieving the related regulatory and commercial events or that shorten or lengthen the time required to achieve such events or that increase or decrease estimated annual sales would result in corresponding increases or decreases in the fair values of the obligations, as applicable. Changes in the fair values of contingent consideration obligations are recognized in Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Changes in the carrying amounts of contingent consideration obligations were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Beginning balance $ 69 $ 179 $ 188 Addition from K-A acquisition 45 — — Net changes in valuations (42 ) (110 ) (9 ) Ending balance $ 72 $ 69 $ 179 As a result of our acquisition of K-A in 2018, we are obligated to make single-digit royalty payments to Kirin contingent upon sales of brodalumab. See Note 3, Business combinations. As a result of our acquisition of Dezima in 2015, we are obligated to pay its former shareholders up to $1.25 billion of additional consideration contingent upon achieving certain development and sales-related milestones and low single-digit royalties on net product sales above a certain threshold for AMG 899, an IPR&D asset. The fair values of the contingent consideration obligations had an aggregate value of $110 million at acquisition. During 2017, we decided to discontinue the internal development of AMG 899 and accordingly, reduced from $116 million to zero the related contingent consideration liabilities and recognized an impairment charge of $400 million on the IPR&D asset in Other operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The remeasurement of these liabilities and the impairment charge are included in Other items, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As a result of our acquisition of BioVex Group Inc. in 2011, we are obligated to pay its former shareholders up to $325 million upon achieving separate regulatory and sales-related milestones with regard to IMLYGIC ® (talimogene laherparepvec) if certain sales thresholds are met within specified periods of time. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no transfers of assets or liabilities between fair value measurement levels. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no material remeasurements to the fair values of assets and liabilities that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis, except with respect to the IPR&D asset discussed above and in Note 14, Goodwill and other intangible assets. Summary of the fair values of other financial instruments Cash equivalents The fair values of cash equivalents approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of such financial instruments. Borrowings We estimated the fair values of our borrowings by using Level 2 inputs. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , the aggregate fair values of our borrowings were $35.0 billion and $38.6 billion , respectively, and the carrying values were $33.9 billion and $35.3 billion , respectively.

Derivative instruments

Derivative instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative instruments	Derivative instruments The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate risks related to its business operations. To reduce our risks related to such exposures, we use or have used certain derivative instruments, including foreign currency forward, foreign currency option, cross-currency swap, forward interest rate and interest rate swap contracts. We do not use derivatives for speculative trading purposes. During 2018, we adopted early a new accounting standard that amends the accounting and reporting of hedging activities. Certain required disclosures have been made on a prospective basis in accordance with the guidance of the standard. See Note 1, Summary of significant accounting policies. Cash flow hedges We are exposed to possible changes in the values of certain anticipated foreign currency cash flows resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates associated primarily with our euro-denominated international product sales. Increases and decreases in the cash flows associated with our international product sales due to movements in foreign currency exchange rates are offset partially by corresponding increases and decreases in the cash flows from our international operating expenses resulting from these foreign currency exchange rate movements. To further reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations with regard to our international product sales, we enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts to hedge a portion of our projected international product sales primarily over a three-year time horizon , with, at any given point in time, a higher percentage of nearer-term projected product sales being hedged than in successive periods. As of December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , we had foreign currency forward contracts with notional amounts of $4.5 billion , $4.6 billion and $3.4 billion , respectively, and foreign currency option contracts with notional amounts of $21 million , $74 million and $608 million , respectively. We have designated these foreign currency forward and foreign currency option contracts, which are primarily euro based, as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, we report the unrealized gains and losses on these contracts in AOCI in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and we reclassify them to Product sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the same periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. To hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with certain of our long-term debt denominated in foreign currencies, we enter into cross-currency swap contracts. Under the terms of such contracts, we paid euros, pounds sterling and Swiss francs and received U.S. dollars for the notional amounts at the inception of the contracts; and based on these notional amounts, we exchange interest payments at fixed rates over the lives of the contracts by paying U.S. dollars and receiving euros, pounds sterling and Swiss francs. In addition, we will pay U.S. dollars to and receive euros, pounds sterling and Swiss francs from the counterparties at the maturities of the contracts for these same notional amounts. The terms of these contracts correspond to the related hedged debt, thereby effectively converting the interest payments and principal repayment on the debt from euros, pounds sterling and Swiss francs to U.S. dollars. We have designated these cross-currency swap contracts as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, the unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are reported in AOCI in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and reclassified to Interest and other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the same periods during which the hedged debt affects earnings. The notional amounts and interest rates of our cross-currency swaps as of December 31, 2018 , were as follows (notional amounts in millions): Foreign currency U.S. dollars Hedged notes Notional amounts Interest rates Notional amounts Interest rates 2.125% 2019 euro Notes € 675 2.1 % $ 864 2.6 % 1.25% 2022 euro Notes € 1,250 1.3 % $ 1,388 3.2 % 0.41 % 2023 Swiss franc Bonds CHF 700 0.4 % $ 704 3.4 % 2.00% 2026 euro Notes € 750 2.0 % $ 833 3.9 % 5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes £ 475 5.5 % $ 747 6.0 % 4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes £ 700 4.0 % $ 1,111 4.5 % In connection with the anticipated issuance of long-term fixed-rate debt, we occasionally enter into forward interest rate contracts in order to hedge the variability in cash flows due to changes in the applicable U.S. Treasury rate between the time we enter into these contracts and the time the related debt is issued. Gains and losses on forward interest rate contracts, which are designated as cash flow hedges, are recognized in AOCI in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized into Interest expense, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income over the lives of the associated debt issuances. Amounts recognized in connection with forward interest rate swaps during the year ended December 31, 2018, and amounts expected to be recognized during the subsequent 12 months are not material. The unrealized gains and losses recognized in AOCI for our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency contracts $ 348 $ (402 ) $ 115 Cross-currency swap contracts (287 ) 581 (281 ) Forward interest rate contracts — 13 (10 ) Total unrealized gains (losses) $ 61 $ 192 $ (176 ) The locations in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the gains and losses reclassified out of AOCI and into earnings for our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships Consolidated Statements of Income locations 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency contracts Product sales $ (21 ) $ 65 $ 308 Cross-currency swap contracts Interest and other income, net (241 ) 574 (446 ) Forward interest rate contracts Interest expense, net — (1 ) (1 ) Total realized (losses) gains $ (262 ) $ 638 $ (139 ) No portions of our cash flow hedge contracts were excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. As of December 31, 2018 , the amount expected to be reclassified out of AOCI and into earnings during the next 12 months is $110 million of net losses on our foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts. Fair value hedges To achieve a desired mix of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt, we entered into interest rate swap contracts that qualified for and were designated as fair value hedges. These interest rate swap contracts effectively convert fixed-rate coupons to floating-rate LIBOR-based coupons over the terms of the related hedge contracts. During the year ended December 31, 2018, we entered into $1.5 billion of interest rate swaps. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , we had interest rate swap contracts with aggregate notional amounts of $10.95 billion and $9.45 billion , respectively, that hedge certain of our long-term debt issuances. See Note 16, Financing arrangements—Interest rate swaps. For interest rate swap contracts that qualify for and are designated as fair value hedges, we recognize in Interest expense, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income, the unrealized gain or loss on the derivative resulting from the change in fair value during the period, as well as the offsetting unrealized loss or gain of the hedged item resulting from the change in fair value during the period attributable to the hedged risk. If a hedging relationship involving an interest rate swap contract is terminated, the gain or loss realized on contract termination is recorded as an adjustment to the carrying value of the debt and amortized into Interest expense, net, over the remaining life of the previously hedged debt. Net unrealized gains and losses on our outstanding interest rate swap contracts were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives in fair value hedging relationships 2018 2017 2016 Net unrealized losses recognized on interest rate swap contracts $ (42 ) $ (85 ) $ (34 ) Net unrealized gains recognized on related hedged debt $ 42 $ 85 $ 34 The hedged liabilities and related cumulative-basis adjustments for fair value hedges of those liabilities were recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows (in millions): Carrying amounts of hedged liabilities (1) Cumulative amounts of fair value hedging adjustments related to the carrying amounts of the hedged liabilities (2) December 31, December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets locations 2018 2017 2018 2017 Current portion of long-term debt $ 2,396 $ 500 $ (3 ) $ 23 Long-term debt $ 9,361 $ 10,516 $ (50 ) $ (11 ) ____________ (1) Current portion of long-term debt includes $1.0 billion and $500 million of carrying value with discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Long-term debt includes $137 million and $1.1 billion of carrying value with discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. (2) Current portion of long-term debt includes $3 million and $23 million of hedging adjustments on discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Long-term debt includes $37 million and $40 million of hedging adjustments on discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The following table summarizes the amounts recorded in income and expense line items and the effects thereon from fair value and cash flow hedging, including discontinued hedging relationships (in millions): Year ended December 31, 2018 Product sales Interest and other income, net Interest (expense), net Total amounts recorded in income and (expense) line items presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income $ 22,533 $ 674 $ (1,392 ) The effects of cash flow and fair value hedging: Losses on cash flow hedging relationships reclassified out of AOCI: Foreign currency contracts $ (21 ) Cross-currency swap contracts $ (241 ) Gains (losses) on fair value hedging relationships—interest rate swap agreements: Hedged items (1) $ 65 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments $ (42 ) __________ (1) The amounts include benefits of $23 million related to the amortization of the cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments included in the carrying amount of the hedged debt for discontinued hedging relationships for the year ended December 31, 2018 . Derivatives not designated as hedges To reduce our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations of certain assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, we enter into foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated as hedging transactions. These exposures are hedged on a month-to-month basis. As of December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , the total notional amounts of these foreign currency forward contracts were $737 million , $757 million and $666 million , respectively. The fair values of these derivatives as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, were not material. The location in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the amounts of gains (losses) recognized in earnings for our derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments Consolidated Statements of Income location 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency contracts Interest and other income, net $ 34 $ 24 $ (56 ) The fair values of derivatives included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (in millions): Derivative assets Derivative liabilities December 31, 2018 Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Foreign currency contracts Other current assets/ Other assets $ 181 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities $ 26 Cross-currency swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 170 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 401 Interest rate swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 56 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 149 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments 407 576 Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: Foreign currency contracts Other current assets 1 Accrued liabilities — Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments 1 — Total derivatives $ 408 $ 576 Derivative assets Derivative liabilities December 31, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Foreign currency contracts Other current assets/ Other assets $ 6 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities $ 204 Cross-currency swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 270 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 220 Interest rate swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 10 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 61 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments $ 286 $ 485 Our derivative contracts that were in liability positions as of December 31, 2018 , contain certain credit-risk-related contingent provisions that would be triggered if (i) we were to undergo a change in control and (ii) our, or the surviving entity’s, creditworthiness deteriorates, which is generally defined as having either a credit rating that is below investment grade or a materially weaker creditworthiness after the change in control. If these events were to occur, the counterparties would have the right but not the obligation to close the contracts under early-termination provisions. In such circumstances, the counterparties could request immediate settlement of these contracts for amounts that approximate the then current fair values of the contracts. In addition, our derivative contracts are not subject to any type of master netting arrangement, and amounts due either to or from a counterparty under the contracts may be offset against other amounts due either to or from the same counterparty only if an event of default or termination, as defined, were to occur. The cash flow effects of our derivative contracts are included within Net cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Contingencies and commitments

Contingencies and commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies and commitments	Contingencies and commitments Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various legal proceedings, government investigations and other matters that are complex in nature and have outcomes that are difficult to predict. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors— Our business may be affected by litigation and government investigations . We describe our legal proceedings and other matters that are significant or that we believe could become significant in this footnote. We record accruals for loss contingencies to the extent that we conclude it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the related loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and other matters that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that has been accrued previously. Our legal proceedings involve various aspects of our business and a variety of claims, some of which present novel factual allegations and/or unique legal theories. In each of the matters described in this filing in which we could incur a liability, our opponents seek an award of a not-yet-quantified amount of damages or an amount that is not material. In addition, a number of the matters pending against us are at very early stages of the legal process, which in complex proceedings of the sort we face often extend for several years. As a result, none of the matters described in this filing in which we could incur a liability have progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or the development of important factual information and legal issues to enable us to estimate a range of possible loss, if any, or such amounts are not material. In addition, while some of the matters described in this filing do not present circumstances in which we could incur a liability (such as some matters involving our claims that others have infringed our patents and in which such others have not asserted counterclaims against us), such matters nevertheless have the potential to significantly impact our business. While it is not possible to accurately predict or determine the eventual outcomes of these matters, an adverse determination in one or more of these matters currently pending could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Certain recent developments concerning our legal proceedings and other matters are discussed below: Sensipar ® (cinacalcet) Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) Patent Litigation Amgen Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. et al. Beginning in September 2016, Amgen filed 14 separate lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (the Delaware District Court) for infringement of our U.S. Patent No. 9,375,405 (the ’405 Patent) against a number of manufacturers of purported generic versions of our Sensipar ® product. In February 2017, the Delaware District Court consolidated these 14 lawsuits into a single case, Amgen Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. et al. The ’405 Patent is entitled “Rapid Dissolution Formulation of a Calcium Receptor-Active Compound” and expires in 2026. All defendants responding to the complaint denied infringement and sought judgment that the ’405 Patent is invalid and/or not infringed. Between September and November of 2017, Amgen filed, and the Delaware District Court signed, stipulated dismissals of the lawsuit against Micro Labs Ltd. and Micro Labs USA, Inc., and the lawsuit against Apotex Inc. and Apotex Corp. (collectively, Apotex), as well as consent judgments filed by Amgen and each of (1) Sun Pharma Global FZE, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. (collectively, Sun) (2) Ajanta Pharma Limited and Ajanta Pharma USA, Inc., (3) Hetero USA Inc., Hetero Labs Ltd. and Hetero Labs Ltd. Unit V and (4) Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Breckenridge). Each consent judgment stipulated to an entry of judgment of infringement and validity of the ’405 Patent and an injunction prohibiting the manufacture, use, sale, offer to sell, importation of, or distribution into the United States of the respective defendant’s cinacalcet product during the term of the ’405 Patent unless specifically authorized pursuant to the confidential settlement agreement. In June 2017, Amgen filed four additional lawsuits in the Delaware District Court for infringement of the ’405 Patent against additional defendants. These defendants also responded to the complaint denying infringement and seeking a declaration of noninfringement and invalidity of the ’405 Patent. One of these lawsuits was subsequently consolidated into Amgen Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. et al . and the remaining three of these lawsuits were consolidated into a separate single case, Amgen Inc. v. Alkem et al. (see below). On March 5, 2018, the Delaware District Court commenced trial on the infringement claims and defenses in the Amgen Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. et al. consolidated lawsuit against the defendants that remained in the lawsuit, collectively consisting of (1) Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. and Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. (collectively, Aurobindo), (2) Watson Laboratories, Inc. and Actavis Pharma, Inc. (collectively, Watson), (3) Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York, LLC and Amneal Pharmaceuticals Co. India Private Limited, (4) Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. and Cadila Healthcare Ltd. (collectively, Zydus) and (5) Piramal Healthcare UK Limited (Piramal). Just prior to trial, the Delaware District Court signed consent judgments filed by Amgen and each of Cipla Limited and Cipla USA, Inc. (collectively, Cipla) and Strides Pharma Global PTE Limited and Strides Pharma, Inc. (collectively, Strides), and in March 2018 the Delaware District Court signed a consent judgment filed by Amgen and Aurobindo. In each consent judgment, the parties stipulated to an entry of judgment of infringement and validity of the ’405 Patent and an injunction prohibiting the manufacture, use, sale, offer to sell, importation of, or distribution into the United States of the applicable defendant’s cinacalcet product during the term of the ’405 Patent unless specifically authorized pursuant to the applicable confidential settlement agreement. Just prior to trial, the Delaware District Court also entered orders dismissing each of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc. (collectively, Dr. Reddy’s), and Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Mylan Inc. (collectively, Mylan), on stipulations between Amgen and such parties, respectively, subject to the terms of confidential settlement agreements. On July 27, 2018, the Delaware District Court issued a trial order finding on the infringement claims and defenses in the Amgen Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. et al. consolidated lawsuit that Zydus infringes the ’405 Patent and that Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC and Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York, LLC (collectively, Amneal), Piramal and Watson do not infringe the ’405 Patent. On August 24, 2018, the Delaware District Court issued an order dismissing, without prejudice, the invalidity counterclaims of Amneal, Piramal and Watson and entered judgment of noninfringement of the ’405 Patent in favor of Amneal, Piramal and Watson. On September 20, 2018, Amgen filed a notice of appeal to the Federal Circuit Court. On October 9, 2018, the Delaware District Court dismissed, without prejudice, the invalidity counterclaims of Zydus and entered judgment of infringement of the ’405 Patent by Zydus in favor of Amgen, including an order that the effective date of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Zydus’ generic version of Sensipar ® shall be no earlier than the expiry date of our ’405 Patent. On October 11, 2018, Zydus filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the Federal Circuit Court) and on October 24, 2018, the Federal Circuit Court consolidated the appeals of Zydus and Amgen. In December 2018, the FDA approved Watson’s generic version of Sensipar ® and Watson’s parent company, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Teva), began selling its product at-risk notwithstanding that the appeals were pending at the Federal Circuit Court. On January 2, 2019, Amgen, Watson and Teva entered into a settlement agreement in which Teva agreed to stop selling its generic product until the mid-year 2021, or earlier under certain circumstances, and to pay Amgen an undisclosed amount. On January 9, 2019, Watson and Amgen filed a motion asking the Delaware District Court to vacate its final judgment of noninfringement as to Watson and to enter a proposed consent judgment of infringement and validity of the ’405 Patent and an injunction prohibiting the making, having made, using, selling, offering to sell, or distributing Watson’s cinacalcet product in the United States, or importing Watson’s cinacalcet product into the United States, consistent with the confidential settlement agreement. On January 11, 2019, the Federal Circuit Court stayed the pending appeal as to Watson in order for the Delaware District Court to rule on the motion of Watson and Amgen. On January 18, 2019 and January 23, 2019, respectively, Cipla and Sun filed oppositions to the motion of Watson and Amgen. On January 8, 2019, Cipla filed a separate lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Amgen seeking a declaration that provisions of its settlement agreement with Amgen have been triggered by Teva’s at-risk launch of Watson’s generic version of Sensipar ® , giving Cipla a right to market its own generic version under its settlement agreement. Cipla’s complaint also alleges antitrust violations by Amgen. The portions of the complaint covering Cipla’s settlement agreement were filed with the court under seal and remain confidential. Amgen Inc. v. Alkem et al. As stated above, Amgen filed four lawsuits in June 2017 for infringement of the ’405 Patent. In December 2017, the lawsuits filed against (1) Alkem Laboratories Ltd. (Alkem), (2) Lupin Ltd. and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (collectively, Lupin) and (3) Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Macleods Pharma USA, Inc. (collectively, Macleods) were consolidated into a separate single case, Amgen Inc. v. Alkem et al. In each of those three lawsuits, all defendants responded to the complaint denying infringement and seeking a declaration of noninfringement and invalidity of the ’405 Patent; Macleods’ response also included a counterclaim alleging sham litigation in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which Amgen has denied and which the Delaware District Court stayed pending resolution of the patent claims. In March 2018, the Delaware District Court signed a consent judgment filed by Amgen and Macleods in which the parties stipulated to an entry of judgment of infringement and validity of the ’405 Patent and an injunction prohibiting the manufacture, use, sale, offer to sell, importation of, or distribution into the United States of Macleods’ cinacalcet product during the term of the ’405 Patent unless specifically authorized pursuant to the confidential settlement agreement. In April 2018, the Delaware District Court also entered orders respectively dismissing Lupin and Alkem on stipulations between the parties, subject to the terms of confidential settlement agreements. Other Sensipar ® ANDA Patent Litigation In December 2017, Amgen filed four additional lawsuits in the Delaware District Court for infringement of the ’405 Patent against (1) Watson, (2) Teva Pharmaceuticals, USA, Inc., (3) Barr Laboratories, Inc. and (4) Torrent Pharma Inc. and Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. These lawsuits were distinct from the suits consolidated into Amgen Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. et al. , and all four additional suits were subsequently dismissed by agreement between Amgen and the respective defendants. In June 2018, Amgen filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Accord Healthcare, Inc. (Accord) and Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Intas) for infringement of the ’405 Patent. Amgen seeks an order making any FDA approval of these defendants’ generic version of Sensipar ® effective no earlier than the expiration of the ’405 Patent. On September 18, 2018, Accord denied infringement of the ’405 Patent and alleged that the patent is invalid. On September 20, 2018, Intas was dismissed from the Delaware District Court lawsuit without prejudice by joint stipulation of the parties. On February 1, 2019, Accord filed a motion for summary judgment of noninfringement. Trial is scheduled to begin June 15, 2020. On September 7, 2018, Amgen filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court for infringement of the ’405 Patent against Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Heritage Pharma Labs Inc. In December 2018, the Delaware District Court entered an order dismissing all defendants on a stipulation between the parties, subject to the terms of a confidential settlement agreement. KYPROLIS ® (carfilzomib) ANDA Patent Litigation Beginning in October 2016, our subsidiary Onyx Therapeutics, Inc. (Onyx Therapeutics), filed four separate lawsuits in the Delaware District Court against: (1) Cipla, (2) Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Sagent), (3) Breckenridge and (4) Fresenius Kabi, USA LLC, Fresenius Kabi USA, Inc., Fresenius Pharmaceuticals Holding, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited, each for infringing U.S. Patent Nos. 7,232,818 (the ’818 Patent), 7,417,042 (the ’042 Patent), 7,491,704 (the ’704 Patent), 7,737,112 (the ’112 Patent), 8,129,346 (the ’346 Patent), 8,207,125 (the ’125 Patent), 8,207,126 (the ’126 Patent), 8,207,127 (the ’127 Patent) and 8,207,297 (the ’297 Patent). By joint stipulation of the parties, Fresenius Pharmaceuticals Holding, Inc. and Fresenius Kabi Oncology Limited were subsequently dismissed from the lawsuit against them. In October and November 2016, Onyx Therapeutics also filed four separate lawsuits in the Delaware District Court against: (1) MSN Laboratories Private Limited and MSN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (collectively, MSN), (2) Dr. Reddy’s, (3) Qilu Pharma, Inc. and Qilu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (collectively, Qilu) and (4) Apotex, each for infringing the ’112 Patent; and a separate lawsuit against InnoPharma, Inc. (InnoPharma) for infringement of the ’042, ’112 and ’297 Patents. In April 2017, Onyx Therapeutics filed a separate lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. for infringement of the ’818, ’042, ’704, ’112, ’346, ’125, ’126, ’127 and ’297 Patents. The Delaware District Court has consolidated these ten lawsuits for purposes of discovery into a single case, Onyx Therapeutics, Inc. v. Cipla Limited., et al . In August 2017, Onyx Therapeutics filed additional lawsuits in the Delaware District Court against InnoPharma for infringement of the ’818, ’704, ’346, ’125, ’126 and ’127 Patents; and against Apotex and Qilu for infringement of the ’818, ’042, ’704, ’346, ’125, ’126, ’127 and ’297 Patents. On September 14, 2017, the Delaware District Court consolidated these three additional lawsuits for purposes of discovery into the existing consolidated case. In September 2017, by joint stipulation of the parties, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. was dismissed from the suit against it, leaving Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., as the remaining defendant in that litigation. In November 2017, Onyx Therapeutics filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. (Aurobindo) for infringement of the ’818, ’042, ’704, ’112, ’346, ’125, ’126, ’127 and ’297 Patents. In December 2017, Onyx Therapeutics filed additional lawsuits in the Delaware District Court against Dr. Reddy’s for infringement of the ’818, ’042, ’704, ’346, ’125, ’126, ’127 and ’297 Patents, and against MSN for infringement of the ’112 Patent. In January 2018, Onyx Therapeutics filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Apotex for infringement of the ’818, ’042, ’704, ’112, ’346, ’125, ’126, ’127 and ’297 Patents. In February 2018, Qilu and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. were each dismissed from the applicable lawsuits by joint stipulation of the parties. On February 7, 2018, the Delaware District Court also consolidated for purposes of discovery the lawsuit against Aurobindo into the existing consolidated case, Onyx Therapeutics, Inc. v. Cipla Limited, et al. On March 20, 2018, the Delaware District Court entered a stipulation between the parties providing Aurobindo a covenant not to sue on the ’818,’704,’346 and ’297 Patents. On February 15, 2018, Onyx Therapeutics filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Breckenridge for patent infringement, and subsequently amended the complaint on March 9, 2018 to assert infringement of the ’042, ’112, ’125, ’126 and ’127 Patents. On April 20, 2018, Onyx Therapeutics filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Cipla for patent infringement of the ’042, ’112, ’125, ’126 and ’127 Patents. The lawsuits filed between 2016-2018 are based on ANDAs that seek approval to market generic versions of KYPROLIS ® before expiration of the asserted patent or patents. In each lawsuit, Onyx Therapeutics seeks an order of the Delaware District Court making any FDA approval of the respective defendant’s ANDA effective no earlier than the expiration of the applicable patents. Responses to the complaints have been filed by all defendants alleging invalidity and, in certain instances, noninfringement of the patents. During April 2018, the Delaware District Court entered orders on stipulations between Onyx Therapeutics and each of Apotex, Dr. Reddy’s and Sagent, respectively, that each defendant infringes the ’042, ’112, ’125, ’126 and ’127 Patents, and that Onyx Therapeutics will not assert patent infringement of the ’818, ’704, ’346 and ’297 Patents against certain of the respective defendants’ ANDA applications and products. During May, June and July of 2018, the Delaware District Court entered orders on stipulations between Onyx Therapeutics and each of Fresenius Kabi, USA LLC and Fresenius Kabi USA, Inc. (collectively, Fresenius), Breckenridge, Aurobindo, Cipla and Innopharma, respectively, that each defendant infringes the ’042, ’112, ’125, ’126 and ’127 Patents. Onyx Therapeutics had previously provided those defendants a covenant that it would not assert patent infringement of the ’818,’704,’346 and ’297 Patents against certain of the respective defendants’ ANDA applications and products. On June 4, 2018, the Delaware District Court also entered an order on a stipulation between Onyx Therapeutics and MSN that MSN infringes the ’112 Patent. In December 2018, Apotex, Dr. Reddy’s, Fresenius, InnoPharma, Sagent, Breckenridge, Aurobindo and Cipla amended their responses to the complaints to add the defense of unclean hands and to seek declarations of unenforceability of the asserted patents based on allegations of inequitable conduct. In January 2019, MSN amended its responses to the complaints to add the defense of unclean hands. Trial in the consolidated case is scheduled to commence on May 6, 2019. On January 11, 2019, Onyx Therapeutics filed a separate lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Breckenridge for infringing the ’042, ’112 and ’125 Patents in connection with its ANDA that seeks approval to market generic versions of KYPROLIS ® before expiration of those patents. Onyx Therapeutics seeks an order from the Delaware District Court making any FDA approval of Breckenridge’s ANDA effective no earlier than the expiration of the applicable patents. Sandoz ENBREL (etanercept) Patent Litigation On February 26, 2016, two affiliates of Amgen Inc. (Immunex Corporation and Amgen Manufacturing, Limited (AML) (collectively, Amgen)), along with Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (the New Jersey District Court) against Sandoz Inc., Sandoz International GmbH and Sandoz GmbH (collectively, Sandoz). This lawsuit stems from Sandoz’s submission of an application for FDA licensure of an etanercept product as biosimilar to Amgen’s ENBREL. Amgen and Roche have asserted infringement of five patents: U.S. Patent Nos. 8,063,182 (the ’182 Patent); 8,163,522 (the ’522 Patent); 7,915,225; 8,119,605; and 8,722,631 (the ’631 Patent). By their complaint, Amgen and Roche seek an injunction to prohibit Sandoz from commercializing its biosimilar etanercept product in the United States prior to the expiry of such patents. Responses have been filed by all Sandoz defendants denying infringement and/or asserting that the patents at issue are invalid. On August 11, 2016, and subject to the terms of a confidential stipulation, the New Jersey District Court entered a preliminary injunction prohibiting Sandoz from making, using, importing, selling or offering for sale Sandoz’s etanercept product. On August 30, 2016, the FDA approved Sandoz’s Erelzi TM , a biosimilar to ENBREL. On September 14, 2017, Amgen filed a motion for summary judgment that Sandoz infringed claim 1 of the ’631 Patent and, on October 23, 2017, Sandoz filed its brief in opposition to the motion. On September 10, 2018, the New Jersey District Court entered an order that the making, using, offering to sell or selling in the United States, or the importation into the United States by Sandoz of Sandoz’s biosimilar etanercept product infringes the ’182 Patent and the ’522 Patent. The New Jersey District Court held a bench trial from September 11, 2018, to September 25, 2018, focusing on Sandoz’s challenges to the validity of these patents. Closing arguments were heard on November 19, 2018, and the parties await the court’s verdict. NEUPOGEN ® (filgrastim) / Neulasta ® (pegfilgrastim) Patent Litigation Adello NEUPOGEN ® Patent Litigation On March 8, 2018, Amgen Inc. and AML (collectively, Amgen) filed a lawsuit in the New Jersey District Court against Adello Biologics, LLC (Adello). This lawsuit stems from Adello’s submission of an application for FDA licensure of a filgrastim product as biosimilar to Amgen’s NEUPOGEN ® . Amgen has asserted infringement of 17 of our patents. Amgen seeks an injunction to prohibit Adello from commercializing its biosimilar filgrastim product in the United States prior to the expiry of these patents. On May 17, 2018, Adello responded to Amgen’s lawsuit for patent infringement, denying infringement and seeking judgment that the patents-in-suit are invalid and not infringed. On October 3, 2018, Amgen filed a first amended complaint in the New Jersey District Court adding as defendants Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC and Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (collectively, Amneal) and reducing the number of patents-in-suit from 17 to 4 : U.S. Patent Nos. 8,940,878 (the ’878 Patent); 8,952,138 (the ’138 Patent); 9,643,997 (the ’997 Patent); and 9,856,287 (the ’287 Patent). On October 17, 2018, Adello responded to the first amended complaint, seeking judgment that our patents-in-suit are not infringed by Adello’s biosimilar filgrastim product and that our patents are invalid. On December 5, 2018, Amneal filed a motion to dismiss the claims against it for failure to state a claim and for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Apotex NEUPOGEN ® / Neulasta ® Patent Litigation On August 7, 2018, Amgen filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Apotex for infringement of the ’287 Patent in accordance with the patent provisions of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). This lawsuit stems from Apotex’s submissions of applications for FDA licensure of a pegfilgrastim product as biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta ® and a filgrastim product as biosimilar to Amgen’s NEUPOGEN ® . By its complaint, Amgen seeks, among other remedies, an injunction prohibiting Apotex from infringing the ’287 Patent. On December 10, 2018, Apotex filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for March 15, 2019. On October 1, 2018, Apotex and Adello Biologics, LLC filed a petition in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office requesting that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) institute post grant review proceedings on the ’287 Patent. On January 23, 2019, Amgen filed a patent owner’s preliminary response. On February 17, 2017, the PTAB of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apotex’s petition to institute an inter partes review (IPR) of the ’138 Patent, challenging claims of the ’138 Patent as unpatentable. On May 22, 2017, Amgen filed its response and oral argument was held before the PTAB on December 13, 2017. The PTAB issued a final decision on the IPR of the ’138 Patent holding all but one claim of the ’138 Patent as unpatentable. On March 16, 2018, Apotex filed a request for rehearing on the PTAB’s finding that this one claim is patentable. Coherus Neulasta ® Patent Litigation On May 10, 2017, Amgen filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (Coherus) for infringement of our U.S. Patent No. 8,273,707 (the ’707 Patent). This lawsuit stems from Coherus’ submission of an application for FDA licensure of a pegfilgrastim product as biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta ® under the BPCIA. By its complaint, Amgen seeks, among other remedies, an injunction prohibiting Coherus from infringing the ’707 Patent. On March 26, 2018, the Delaware District Court granted Coherus’ motion to dismiss Amgen’s complaint for failure to state a claim and final judgment was entered dismissing Amgen’s complaint on April 18, 2018. On May 17, 2018, Amgen appealed the judgment to the Federal Circuit Court. On November 2, 2018, the FDA approved Coherus’ UDENYCA TM , a biosimilar to Neulasta ® , which was subsequently launched in January 2019. We are also engaged in a separate lawsuit in which we have alleged that Coherus and others misappropriated our confidential information and trade secrets through hiring of former Amgen employees and that they have used such information to develop and market UDENYCA TM . Trial is scheduled to begin on April 22, 2019. Mylan Neulasta ® Patent Litigation On September 22, 2017, Amgen Inc. and AML (collectively, Amgen) filed a lawsuit in the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Western District Court) against Mylan Inc., Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., Mylan GmbH, and Mylan N.V. (collectively, Mylan) for infringement of our ’707 Patent and the ’997 Patent. This lawsuit stems from Mylan’s submission of an application for FDA licensure of a pegfilgrastim product as biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta ® under the BPCIA. By its complaint, Amgen seeks, among other remedies, an injunction prohibiting Mylan from infringing the ’707 and ’997 Patents. On November 22, 2017, Mylan answered the complaint, denying patent infringement and alleging that the patents are invalid. On April 6, 2018, Mylan filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings of noninfringement of our ’707 Patent, which was denied by the court without prejudice on November 15, 2018. On June 4, 2018, the FDA approved Mylan’s Fulphila ® , a biosimilar to Neulasta ® , which was subsequently launched in July 2018. On November 20, 2018, the Pennsylvania Western District Court issued a claim construction opinion and order. On January 23 and 30, 2019, Mylan filed a renewed motion for judgment on the pleadings of noninfringement of the ’707 Patent and a motion for summary judgment of noninfringement of the ’997 Patent, respectively. Pfizer NEUPOGEN ® Patent Litigation On July 18, 2018, Amgen Inc. and AML (collectively, Amgen) filed a lawsuit in the Delaware District Court against Pfizer Inc. and Hospira Inc. (collectively, Pfizer). This lawsuit stems from Pfizer’s submission of an application for FDA licensure of a filgrastim product as biosimilar to Amgen’s NEUPOGEN ® . Amgen has asserted infringement of the ’997 Patent and seeks, among other remedies, injunctive relief to prohibit Pfizer from infringing the ’997 Patent. On July 20, 2018, the FDA approved Pfizer’s NIVESTYM TM , a biosimilar to NEUPOGEN ® , which was subsequently launched in October 2018. On August 9, 2018, Pfizer answered the complaint and counterclaimed seeking a declaration that Pfizer does not infringe Amgen’s ’997 Patent and that the patent is invalid. Trial is scheduled to commence on June 15, 2020. Sandoz NEUPOGEN ® Patent Litigation On October 24, 2014, Amgen Inc. and AML (collectively, Amgen) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (the California Northern District Court) against Sandoz Inc., Sandoz International GmbH and Sandoz GmbH (collectively, Sandoz) for infringement of our U.S. Patent No. 6,162,427 (the ’427 Patent) and various state law claims. The lawsuit stems from Sandoz filing an application for FDA licensure of a filgrastim product as biosimilar to NEUPOGEN ® under the BPCIA, while having deliberately failed to comply with the BPCIA’s disclosure requirement to Amgen as the reference product sponsor. By its complaint, Amgen seeks, among other remedies, an injunction to cease Sandoz’s unauthorized reliance on Amgen’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for filgrastim and an injunction to prevent infringement of the ’427 Patent. On March 19, 2015, the California Northern District Court issued an order dismissing with prejudice Amgen’s state law claims and entered judgment in favor of Sandoz Inc. on its cross-motion for partial judgment on the pleadings. The order also denied Amgen’s motion for a preliminary injunction, as well as Amgen’s motion for partial judgment on the pleadings. On a joint motion of the parties, on March 25, 2015, the California Northern District Court entered final judgment on the claims and counterclaims decided by the court’s March 19 order. The remaining patent infringement claim, counterclaim and defenses were stayed by the court pending appeal. On March 25, 2015, Amgen appealed both the judgment in favor of Sandoz Inc. and the denial of Amgen’s motion for preliminary injunction to the Federal Circuit Court. On May 5, 2015, the Federal Circuit Court entered an injunction prohibiting Sandoz Inc. from marketing, selling, offering for sale, or importing into the United States Sandoz’s FDA-approved Zarxio ® biosimilar product until the Federal Circuit Court resolved the appeal. On July 21, 2015, the Federal Circuit Court affirmed the California Northern District Court’s dismissal of Amgen’s state law claims concluding that the only remedies available for a biosimilar applicant’s failure to provide its BLA by the statutory deadline is to bring a patent infringement claim and seek those patent remedies provided by the statute. The Federal Circuit Court also concluded that a biosimilar applicant must give 180-day advance notice of first commercial marketing after the FDA has licensed the biosimilar product. Accordingly, the Federal Circuit Court entered an order that its previously entered injunction be extended through September 2, 2015 (180 days from Sandoz Inc.’s notice given after FDA approval). In 2016, Sandoz filed a petition for certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court and Amgen filed a conditional cross-petition for certiorari. Both petitions were granted and on June 12, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Federal Circuit Court ruling that a biosimilar applicant must wait to give the 180-day advance notice of first commercial marketing until after the FDA has licensed the biosimilar product, holding that such notice can be given either before or after the FDA approval. The U.S. Supreme Court also vacated the Federal Circuit Court’s decision that the only remedy available when a biosimilar applicant refuses to provide its BLA is to bring a patent infringement claim. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the Federal Circuit Court that there is no remedy under federal law for failing to make the disclosure but remanded the case to the Federal Circuit Court to determine whether California law would treat noncompliance with such requirement as unlawful and, if so, to determine whether the BPCIA pre-empts any additional remedy available under state law and whether Sandoz forfeited any pre-emption defense. On December 14, 2017, the Federal Circuit Court affirmed the California Northern District Court’s dismissal of Amgen’s state law claims, holding that the BPCIA pre-empts state law remedies for a biosimilar applicant’s failure to comply with the BPCIA’s disclosure requirement. Following the California Northern District Court’s September 8, 2015 lift of the stay of the case, the parties continued to litigate the remai

Major customers

Major customers	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Major customers	Major customers In the United States, we sell primarily to pharmaceutical wholesale distributors that we utilize as the principal means of distributing our products to healthcare providers. Outside the United States, we sell principally to healthcare providers and/or pharmaceutical wholesale distributors depending on the distribution practice in each country. We monitor the financial condition of our larger customers and limit our credit exposure by setting credit limits and, in certain circumstances, by requiring letters of credit or obtaining credit insurance. We had product sales to three customers, each of them accounting for more than 10% of total revenues for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 . For the year ended December 31, 2018 , on a combined basis, these customers accounted for 84% and 98% of total gross revenues and U.S. gross product sales, respectively, as shown in the following table. Certain information with respect to these customers was as follows (dollar amounts in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 AmerisourceBergen Corporation: Gross product sales $ 12,091 $ 10,742 $ 10,100 % of total gross revenues 33 % 31 % 31 % % of U.S. gross product sales 39 % 37 % 38 % McKesson Corporation: Gross product sales $ 11,434 $ 10,625 $ 9,710 % of total gross revenues 31 % 30 % 30 % % of U.S. gross product sales 35 % 35 % 34 % Cardinal Health, Inc.: Gross product sales $ 7,475 $ 7,049 $ 6,520 % of total gross revenues 20 % 20 % 20 % % of U.S. gross product sales 24 % 24 % 24 % As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , amounts due from these three customers each exceeded 10% of gross trade receivables and accounted for 76% and 75% , respectively, of net trade receivables on a combined basis. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , 23% and 25% , respectively, of trade receivables, net, were due from customers located outside the United States—primarily in Europe. Our total allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 was not material.

Quarterly financial data (unaud

Quarterly financial data (unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)	Quarterly financial data (unaudited) The following tables summarize the Company’s unaudited financial data on a quarterly basis. The sum of the quarterly earnings (loss) per-share amounts may not equal the amount reported for the full year because per-share amounts are computed independently for each quarter and for the full year based on respective weighted-average shares outstanding and dilutive securities. Quarterly financial data is summarized as follows (in millions, except per-share data): 2018 Quarters ended December 31 September 30 June 30 March 31 Product sales $ 6,001 $ 5,510 $ 5,679 $ 5,343 Gross profit from product sales $ 4,905 $ 4,473 $ 4,655 $ 4,399 Net income $ 1,928 $ 1,859 $ 2,296 $ 2,311 Earnings per share: Basic $ 3.04 $ 2.88 $ 3.50 $ 3.27 Diluted $ 3.01 $ 2.86 $ 3.48 $ 3.25 2017 Quarters ended December 31 September 30 June 30 March 31 Product sales $ 5,569 $ 5,453 $ 5,574 $ 5,199 Gross profit from product sales $ 4,510 $ 4,463 $ 4,550 $ 4,203 Net (loss) income $ (4,264 ) $ 2,021 $ 2,151 $ 2,071 (Loss) earnings per share: Basic $ (5.89 ) $ 2.78 $ 2.93 $ 2.81 Diluted (1) $ (5.89 ) $ 2.76 $ 2.91 $ 2.79 ____________ (1) During periods of net loss, diluted loss per share is equal to basic loss per share because the antidilutive effect of potential common shares is disregarded.

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUA

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	SCHEDULE II AMGEN INC. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 (In millions) Allowance for doubtful accounts Balance at beginning of period Additions charged to costs and expenses Other additions Deductions Balance at end of period Year ended December 31, 2018 $ 51 $ 1 $ — $ 4 $ 48 Year ended December 31, 2017 $ 51 $ 4 $ — $ 4 $ 51 Year ended December 31, 2016 $ 55 $ 11 $ — $ 15 $ 51

Summary of significant accoun_2

Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Business	Business Amgen Inc. (including its subsidiaries, referred to as “Amgen,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) is a global biotechnology pioneer that discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. We operate in one business segment: human therapeutics.
Principles of consolidation	Principles of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amgen as well as its majority-owned subsidiaries. We do not have any significant interests in any variable interest entities. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of estimates	Use of estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Revenues and Arrangements with multiple performance obligations	Revenues Adoption of new revenue recognition standard In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers to transfer goods and services. The FASB subsequently issued additional, clarifying standards to address issues arising from implementation of the new revenue recognition standard. The new revenue recognition standard and clarifying standards require an entity to recognize revenue when control of promised goods or services is transferred to the customer at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. We adopted this new standard as of January 1, 2018, by applying the modified-retrospective method to those contracts that were not completed as of that date. The results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018, are presented in accordance with the new standard, although comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards and policies in effect for those periods. Upon adoption, we recorded a net decrease of $25 million to Accumulated deficit due to the cumulative impact of adopting the new standard—with the impact related primarily to the acceleration of deferred revenue, net of related deferred tax impact. The adoption of this new standard had an immaterial impact on our reported total revenues and operating income as compared to what reported amounts would have been under the prior standard, and we expect the impact of adoption in future periods to also be immaterial. Our accounting policies under the new standard were applied prospectively and are described below. See Note 4, Revenues. Product sales and sales deductions Revenue from product sales is recognized upon transfer of control of a product to a customer, generally upon delivery, based on an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled, net of accruals for estimated rebates, wholesaler chargebacks, discounts and other deductions (collectively, sales deductions) and returns established at the time of sale. We analyze the adequacy of our accruals for sales deductions quarterly. Amounts accrued for sales deductions are adjusted when trends or significant events indicate that an adjustment is appropriate. Accruals are also adjusted to reflect actual results. Accruals for sales deductions are based primarily on estimates of the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales. These estimates take into consideration current contractual and statutory requirements, specific known market events and trends, internal and external historical data and forecasted customer buying patterns. Sales deductions are substantially product specific and therefore, for any given period, can be affected by the mix of products sold. Included in sales deductions are immaterial net adjustments related to prior-period sales due to changes in estimates. Historically, such amounts have represented less than 1% of the aggregate sales deductions charged against product sales. Returns are estimated through comparison of historical return data to their related sales on a production lot basis. Historical rates of return are determined for each product and are adjusted for known or expected changes in the marketplace specific to each product, when appropriate. Historically, sales return provisions have amounted to less than 1% of gross product sales. Changes in estimates for prior-period sales return provisions have historically been immaterial. Our payment terms vary by types and locations of customers and the products or services offered. Payment terms differ by jurisdiction and customer, but payment is generally required in a term ranging from 30 to 120 days from date of shipment or satisfaction of the performance obligation. For certain products or services and certain customer types, we may require payment before products are delivered or services are rendered to customers. Indirect taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities and that are related to sales of the Company’s products, primarily in Europe, are excluded from revenues. As a practical expedient, sales commissions are expensed when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Other revenues Other revenues consist primarily of royalty income and corporate partner revenues. Royalties from licensees are based on third-party sales of licensed products and are recorded when the related third-party product sale occurs. Royalty estimates are based on historical and forecasted sales trends. Corporate partner revenues are composed mainly of license fees and milestones earned and our share of commercial profits generated from collaborations. See Arrangements with multiple-performance obligations, discussed below. Arrangements with multiple-performance obligations From time to time, we enter into arrangements for the research and development (R&D), manufacture and/or commercialization of products and product candidates. Such arrangements may require us to deliver various rights, services and/or goods, including intellectual property rights/licenses, R&D services, manufacturing services and/or commercialization services. The underlying terms of these arrangements generally provide for consideration to Amgen in the form of nonrefundable upfront license fees, development and commercial performance milestone payments, royalty payments and/or profit sharing. In arrangements involving more than one performance obligation, each required performance obligation is evaluated to determine whether it qualifies as a distinct performance obligation based on whether (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available and (ii) the good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. The consideration under the arrangement is then allocated to each separate distinct performance obligation based on its respective relative stand-alone selling price. The estimated selling price of each deliverable reflects our best estimate of what the selling price would be if the deliverable was regularly sold by us on a stand-alone basis or using an adjusted market assessment approach if selling price on a stand-alone basis is not available. The consideration allocated to each distinct performance obligation is recognized as revenue when control of the related goods or services is transferred. Consideration associated with at-risk substantive performance milestones is recognized as revenue when it is probable that a significant reversal of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. We utilize the sales and usage-based royalty exception in arrangements that resulted from the license of intellectual property, recognizing revenues generated from royalties or profit sharing as the underlying sales occur.
Research and development costs	Research and development costs R&D costs are expensed as incurred and include primarily salaries, benefits and other staff-related costs; facilities and overhead costs; clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing costs; contract services and other outside costs; information systems’ costs; and amortization of acquired technology used in R&D with alternative future uses. R&D expenses also include costs and cost recoveries associated with third-party R&D arrangements, including upfront fees and milestones paid to third parties in connection with technologies that had not reached technological feasibility and did not have an alternative future use. Net payment or reimbursement of R&D costs is recognized when the obligations are incurred or as we become entitled to the cost recovery. See Note 9, Collaborations.
Selling, general and administrative costs	Selling, general and administrative costs Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) costs are composed primarily of salaries, benefits and other staff-related costs associated with sales and marketing, finance, legal and other administrative personnel; facilities and overhead costs; outside marketing, advertising and legal expenses; the U.S. healthcare reform federal excise fee on Branded Prescription Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Importers; and other general and administrative costs. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $674 million , $620 million and $489 million during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. SG&A expenses also include costs and cost recoveries associated with marketing and promotion efforts under certain collaborative arrangements. Net payment or reimbursement of SG&A costs is recognized when the obligations are incurred or we become entitled to the cost recovery. See Note 9, Collaborations.
Stock-based compensation	Stock-based compensation We have stock-based compensation plans under which various types of equity-based awards are granted, including restricted stock units (RSUs), performance units and stock options. The fair values of RSUs and stock option awards, which are subject only to service conditions with graded vesting, are recognized as compensation expense, generally on a straight-line basis over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The fair values of performance unit awards are recognized as compensation expense, generally on a straight-line basis from the grant date to the end of the performance period. See Note 5, Stock-based compensation.
Income taxes	Income taxes We provide for income taxes based on pretax income and applicable tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and income tax assets and liabilities, including evaluating uncertainties in the application of accounting principles and complex tax laws. Deferred income taxes are recorded for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the bases of assets and liabilities, as well as for loss and tax credit carryforwards for financial reporting purposes and amounts recognized for income tax purposes. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount of future tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recognized in the consolidated financial statements for a particular tax position is based on the largest benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits (UTBs) is adjusted as appropriate for changes in facts and circumstances, such as significant amendments to existing tax law, new regulations or interpretations by the taxing authorities, new information obtained during a tax examination, or resolution of an examination. We recognize both accrued interest and penalties, where appropriate, related to UTBs in income tax expense. See Note 7, Income taxes.
Business combinations	Business combinations Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method, assets acquired, including in-process research and development (IPR&D) projects, and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values as of the acquisition date in our consolidated financial statements. The excess of the fair value of consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Contingent consideration obligations incurred in connection with a business combination (including the assumption of an acquiree’s liability arising from a business combination it consummated prior to our acquisition) are recorded at their fair values on the acquisition date and remeasured at their fair values each subsequent reporting period until the related contingencies are resolved. The resulting changes in fair values are recorded in earnings. See Note 3, Business combinations, and Note 18, Fair value measurement.
Cash equivalents	Cash equivalents We consider cash equivalents to be only those investments that are highly liquid, readily convertible to cash and which mature within three months from the date of purchase.
Interest-bearing securities	Interest-bearing securities We consider our interest-bearing securities investment portfolio available-for-sale, and accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI). Investments with maturities beyond one year may be classified as short-term marketable securities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets due to their highly liquid nature and because they represent the Company’s investments that are available for current operations. See Note 11, Investments, and Note 18, Fair value measurement.
Inventories	Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost, which includes amounts related to materials, labor and overhead, is determined in a manner that approximates the first-in, first-out method. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. See Note 12, Inventories.
Derivatives	Derivatives We recognize all of our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether the derivative has been formally designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship under the applicable accounting standards and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. For derivatives formally designated as hedges, we assess both at inception and quarterly thereafter, whether the hedging derivatives are highly effective in offsetting changes in either the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. Our derivatives that are not designated and do not qualify as hedges are adjusted to fair value through current earnings. See Note 18, Fair value measurement, and Note 19, Derivative instruments.
Property, plant and equipment, net	Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment is recorded at historical cost, net of accumulated depreciation, amortization and, if applicable, impairment charges. We review our property, plant and equipment assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Depreciation is provided over the assets’ useful lives on a straight-line basis. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or lease terms. See Note 13, Property, plant and equipment.
Goodwill and other intangible assets	Goodwill and other intangible assets Finite-lived intangible assets are recorded at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and, if applicable, impairment charges. Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets is provided over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis or based on the pattern in which economic benefits are consumed, if reliably determinable. We review our finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. See Note 14, Goodwill and other intangible assets. The fair values of IPR&D projects acquired in a business combination that are not complete are capitalized and accounted for as indefinite-lived intangible assets until completion or abandonment of the related R&D efforts. Upon successful completion of the project, the capitalized amount is amortized over its estimated useful life. If a project is abandoned, all remaining capitalized amounts are written off immediately. There are often major risks and uncertainties associated with IPR&D projects as we are required to obtain regulatory approvals in order to be able to market the resulting products. Such approvals require completing clinical trials that demonstrate a product candidate is safe and effective. Consequently, the eventual realized value of the acquired IPR&D project may vary from its fair value at the date of acquisition, and IPR&D impairment charges may occur in future periods. Capitalized IPR&D projects are tested for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We consider various factors for potential impairment, including the current legal and regulatory environment and the competitive landscape. Adverse clinical trial results, significant delays in obtaining marketing approval, the inability to bring a product to market and the introduction or advancement of competitors’ products could result in partial or full impairment of the related intangible assets. We perform an impairment test of goodwill annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. To date, an impairment of goodwill has not been recorded. See Note 14, Goodwill and other intangible assets.
Contingencies	Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various legal proceedings, government investigations and other matters that are complex in nature and have outcomes that are difficult to predict. Certain of these proceedings are discussed in Note 20, Contingencies and commitments. We record accruals for loss contingencies to the extent that we conclude that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the related loss can be reasonably estimated. We evaluate, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and other matters that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that has been accrued previously.
Foreign currency translation	Foreign currency translation The net assets of international subsidiaries whose local currencies have been determined to be the functional currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. The U.S. dollar effects that arise from translating net assets of these subsidiaries at changing rates are recognized in AOCI. The earnings of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates.
Other recently adopted pronouncement and Other recent accounting pronouncements	Other recently adopted pronouncements In January 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the accounting and disclosures of financial instruments, including a provision requiring that equity investments (except for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting) be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. With the exception of equity investments that were previously accounted for at cost, a modified-retrospective approach was used to reflect the cumulative-effect of adoption as an adjustment to Accumulated deficit as of the beginning of the fiscal year. The new standard will be applied prospectively to investments currently that were previously accounted for at cost. Upon adoption, on January 1, 2018, we recorded an immaterial adjustment to Accumulated deficit from AOCI, which represented the net unrealized gain on all equity investments with readily determinable fair values as of December 31, 2017. The impact that this new standard has on our consolidated statements of income after adoption will depend on changes in fair values of equity securities in our portfolio in the future. See Note 11, Investments. In October 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the income tax accounting guidance for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new standard requires that entities recognize the income tax consequences of an intercompany transfer of an asset, other than inventory, in the period the transfer occurs. The current exception to defer the recognition of any tax impact on intercompany transfers of inventory until the inventory is sold to a third party remains unaffected. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, and will apply it to any transaction occurring on or after the adoption date. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements; however, the impact on our consolidated financial statements in future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions. In January 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that changes the definition of a business to assist entities with the evaluation of when a set of assets acquired or disposed of should be considered a business. The new standard requires that an entity evaluate whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of assets would not be considered a business. The new standard also requires that a business include at least one substantive process, and it narrows the definition of outputs. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018. Adoption of this new standard may result in more transactions being accounted for as asset acquisitions versus business combinations; however, the impact on our consolidated financial statements in future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions. In August 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the accounting and reporting of hedging activities, which we elected to adopt early during the second quarter of 2018. Among its provisions, the new standard (i) eliminates the separate measurement and reporting of hedge ineffectiveness and (ii) permits an entity to recognize in earnings the initial fair value of an excluded component of a hedging instrument’s fair value under a systematic and rational method over the life of the derivative instrument. In accordance with the transition provisions of the new standard, the separate measurement of ineffectiveness for our cash flow hedging instruments existing as of the date of adoption is required to be eliminated through a cumulative-effect adjustment to Accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of the fiscal year. In addition, certain provisions in the guidance require modifications to existing presentation and disclosure requirements on a prospective basis. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 19, Derivative instruments. Other recent accounting pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases. This new standard requires that lessees recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including leases classified as operating leases under current GAAP, and disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements. The new standard requires a modified-retrospective approach to adoption and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB further amended this standard to allow for a new transition method that offers the option to use the effective date as the date of initial application. We intend to elect this alternative transition method and therefore will not adjust comparative-period financial information. In addition, we intend to elect the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance of the new standard to not reassess prior conclusions related to contracts that are or that contain leases, lease classification and initial direct costs. We do not expect that this standard will have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The primary effect of adoption will be the requirement to record the present value of lease liabilities for current operating leases and corresponding right-of-use (ROU) assets. Upon adoption, we estimate we will have additional liabilities ranging from $400 million to $450 million with corresponding ROU assets of a similar amount for lease agreements in effect as of December 31, 2018. The actual impact will depend on our lease portfolio at the time of adoption. We are currently finalizing the implementation of the lease accounting information system, documenting processes, and establishing internal controls to properly track, record and account for our lease portfolio. The new standard also provides practical expedients for the ongoing accounting. We also currently expect to elect the practical expedient to not separate lease and nonlease components for most of our asset classes. In June 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for measuring and recording credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost by replacing the incurred-loss model with an expected-loss model. Accordingly, these financial assets will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. This new standard also requires that credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities be recorded as an allowance through net income rather than reducing the carrying amount under the current, other-than-temporary-impairment model. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2020, but may be adopted earlier, beginning on January 1, 2019. With certain exceptions, adjustments are to be applied using a modified-retrospective approach by reflecting adjustments through a cumulative-effect impact on retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We are currently evaluating the impact that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Business combinations (Tables)

Business combinations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Aggregate acquisition date consideration to acquire an entity	The aggregate share acquisition date consideration to acquire the remaining 50% ownership in K-A and the fair value of Amgen’s preacquisition investment consisted of the following (in millions): Amounts Total cash paid to Kirin $ 780 Fair value of contingent consideration obligation 45 Loss on settlement of preexisting relationship (168 ) Total consideration transferred to acquire K-A 657 Fair value of Amgen’s investment in K-A 825 Total acquisition date fair value $ 1,482

Revenues (Tables)

Revenues (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of revenue by product and by geographic area	Revenues were as follows (in millions): Year ended December 31, 2018 US ROW Total Enbrel ® (etanercept) $ 4,807 $ 207 $ 5,014 Neulasta ® (pegfilgrastim) 3,866 609 4,475 Prolia ® (denosumab) 1,500 791 2,291 Aranesp ® (darbepoetin alfa) 942 935 1,877 XGEVA ® (denosumab) 1,338 448 1,786 Sensipar ® / Mimpara ® (cinacalcet) 1,436 338 1,774 EPOGEN ® (epoetin alfa) 1,010 — 1,010 Other products 2,530 1,776 4,306 Total product sales (1) 17,429 5,104 22,533 Other revenues 929 285 1,214 Total revenues (2) $ 18,358 $ 5,389 $ 23,747 Year ended December 31, 2017 US ROW Total ENBREL $ 5,206 $ 227 $ 5,433 Neulasta ® 3,931 603 4,534 Aranesp ® 1,114 939 2,053 Prolia ® 1,272 696 1,968 Sensipar ® / Mimpara ® 1,374 344 1,718 XGEVA ® 1,157 418 1,575 EPOGEN ® 1,096 — 1,096 Other products 1,981 1,437 3,418 Total product sales (1) 17,131 4,664 21,795 Other revenues 898 156 1,054 Total revenues (2) $ 18,029 $ 4,820 $ 22,849 Year ended December 31, 2016 US ROW Total ENBREL $ 5,719 $ 246 $ 5,965 Neulasta ® 3,925 723 4,648 Aranesp ® 1,082 1,011 2,093 Prolia ® 1,049 586 1,635 Sensipar ® / Mimpara ® 1,240 342 1,582 XGEVA ® 1,115 414 1,529 EPOGEN ® 1,282 — 1,282 Other products 1,913 1,245 3,158 Total product sales (1) 17,325 4,567 21,892 Other revenues 1,001 98 1,099 Total revenues (2) $ 18,326 $ 4,665 $ 22,991 ____________ (1) Hedging gains and losses, which are included in product sales, were not material for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 . For the year ended December 31, 2016 , hedging gains were $308 million . (2) Prior-period amounts are not adjusted under the modified-retrospective method of adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard.

Stock-based compensation (Table

Stock-based compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income	The following table reflects the components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Income (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 RSUs $ 165 $ 174 $ 177 Performance units 117 133 123 Stock options 29 22 11 Total stock-based compensation expense, pretax 311 329 311 Tax benefit from stock-based compensation expense (67 ) (118 ) (112 ) Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax $ 244 $ 211 $ 199
Summary of RSUs	The following table summarizes information regarding our RSUs: Year ended December 31, 2018 Units (in millions) Weighted-average grant date fair value Balance nonvested at December 31, 2017 3.4 $ 155.11 Granted 1.2 $ 179.18 Vested (1.2 ) $ 142.82 Forfeited (0.3 ) $ 163.36 Balance nonvested at December 31, 2018 3.1 $ 168.11
Weighted-average assumptions used and the resulting weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options	The weighted-average assumptions used in the option valuation model and the resulting weighted-average grant date fair values of stock options granted were as follows: Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Closing price of our common stock on grant date $ 177.46 $ 162.60 $ 156.35 Expected volatility (average of implied and historical volatility) 24.6 % 22.7 % 24.3 % Expected life (in years) 5.8 5.8 5.8 Risk-free interest rate 2.8 % 2.1 % 1.5 % Expected dividend yield 2.9 % 2.8 % 2.6 % Fair value of stock options granted $ 34.60 $ 27.54 $ 27.55
Summary of stock options	The following table summarizes information regarding our stock options: Year ended December 31, 2018 Options (in millions) Weighted- average exercise price Weighted- average remaining contractual life (in years) Aggregate intrinsic value (in millions) Balance unexercised at December 31, 2017 4.0 $ 127.08 Granted 1.2 $ 177.46 Exercised (0.5 ) $ 76.68 Expired/forfeited (0.3 ) $ 163.79 Balance unexercised at December 31, 2018 4.4 $ 143.57 7.0 $ 225 Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2018 4.2 $ 142.09 6.9 $ 220 Exercisable at December 31, 2018 1.2 $ 84.01 3.3 $ 135
Weighted average assumptions used and the resulting weighted average grant date fair value of performance units	The weighted-average assumptions used in this model and the resulting weighted-average grant date fair values of performance units granted were as follows: Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Closing price of our common stock on grant date $ 177.93 $ 162.60 $ 156.35 Volatility 23.8 % 25.9 % 25.8 % Risk-free interest rate 2.6 % 1.4 % 0.9 % Fair value of units granted $ 189.21 $ 178.87 $ 170.56

Income taxes (Tables)

Income taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of income before income tax, domestic and foreign	Income before income taxes included the following (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Domestic $ 4,856 $ 4,436 $ 4,478 Foreign 4,689 5,161 4,685 Total income before income taxes $ 9,545 $ 9,597 $ 9,163
Provision for income taxes	The provision for income taxes included the following (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Current provision: Federal $ 1,270 $ 8,615 $ 984 State 17 5 65 Foreign 227 275 176 Total current provision 1,514 8,895 1,225 Deferred (benefit) provision: Federal (317 ) (1,120 ) 372 State (7 ) — (69 ) Foreign (39 ) (157 ) (87 ) Total deferred (benefit) provision (363 ) (1,277 ) 216 Total provision for income taxes $ 1,151 $ 7,618 $ 1,441
Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities	Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Deferred income tax assets: NOL and credit carryforwards $ 810 $ 812 Accrued expenses 428 362 Expenses capitalized for tax 185 155 Stock-based compensation 95 99 Other 174 154 Total deferred income tax assets 1,692 1,582 Valuation allowance (509 ) (497 ) Net deferred income tax assets 1,183 1,085 Deferred income tax liabilities: Acquired intangible assets (1,509 ) (1,748 ) Debt (184 ) (184 ) Other (267 ) (240 ) Total deferred income tax liabilities (1,960 ) (2,172 ) Total deferred income taxes, net $ (777 ) $ (1,087 )
Reconciliation of total gross amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (excluding interest, penalties, foreign tax credits and the federal tax benefit of state taxes related to unrecognized tax benefits)	The reconciliations of the total gross amounts of UTBs (excluding interest, penalties, foreign tax credits and the federal tax benefit of state taxes related to UTBs) were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Beginning balance $ 2,953 $ 2,543 $ 2,114 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year 173 447 425 Additions based on tax positions related to prior years 13 1 18 Reductions for tax positions of prior years (17 ) (5 ) (7 ) Reductions for expiration of statute of limitations — (5 ) — Settlements (61 ) (28 ) (7 ) Ending balance $ 3,061 $ 2,953 $ 2,543
Reconciliation between the federal statutory tax rate and effective tax rate	The reconciliations between the federal statutory tax rate applied to income before income taxes and our effective tax rate were as follows: Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Federal statutory tax rate 21.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 % 2017 Tax Act, net repatriation tax — % 70.7 % — % Foreign earnings (4.3 )% (15.8 )% (15.5 )% 2017 Tax Act, net deferred tax remeasurement — % (6.9 )% — % Credits, Puerto Rico Excise Tax (2.5 )% (2.2 )% (2.3 )% 2017 Tax Act, net impact on intercompany sales (1.8 )% — % — % Interest on uncertain tax positions 1.2 % 0.6 % 0.5 % Credits, primarily federal R&D (0.8 )% (0.6 )% (0.7 )% Share-based payments (0.2 )% (0.7 )% (1.3 )% Other, net (0.5 )% (0.7 )% — % Effective tax rate 12.1 % 79.4 % 15.7 %

Earnings per share (Tables)

Earnings per share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation for basic and diluted earnings per share	The computations for basic and diluted EPS were as follows (in millions, except per-share data): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Income (Numerator): Net income for basic and diluted EPS $ 8,394 $ 1,979 $ 7,722 Shares (Denominator): Weighted-average shares for basic EPS 661 731 748 Effect of dilutive securities 4 4 6 Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS 665 735 754 Basic EPS $ 12.70 $ 2.71 $ 10.32 Diluted EPS $ 12.62 $ 2.69 $ 10.24

Investments (Tables)

Investments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and estimated fair values of available-for-sale investments by type of security	The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair values of available-for-sale investments by type of security were as follows (in millions): Types of securities as of December 31, 2018 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair values U.S. Treasury notes $ 2,710 $ — $ (47 ) $ 2,663 U.S. Treasury bills 8,191 — — 8,191 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. 112 — (2 ) 110 Foreign and other 972 1 (41 ) 932 Corporate debt securities: Financial 2,778 — (81 ) 2,697 Industrial 2,603 — (99 ) 2,504 Other 583 — (21 ) 562 Residential-mortgage-backed securities 1,458 — (36 ) 1,422 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 483 — (14 ) 469 Money market mutual funds 5,659 — — 5,659 Other short-term interest-bearing securities 3,515 — — 3,515 Total available-for-sale investments $ 29,064 $ 1 $ (341 ) $ 28,724 Types of securities as of December 31, 2017 Amortized cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair values U.S. Treasury notes $ 8,313 $ 1 $ (72 ) $ 8,242 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. 225 — (2 ) 223 Foreign and other 2,415 18 (11 ) 2,422 Corporate debt securities: Financial 10,089 17 (34 ) 10,072 Industrial 9,688 34 (52 ) 9,670 Other 1,393 3 (6 ) 1,390 Residential-mortgage-backed securities 2,198 — (30 ) 2,168 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 2,312 — (15 ) 2,297 Money market mutual funds 3,245 — — 3,245 Other short-term interest-bearing securities 1,440 — — 1,440 Total interest-bearing securities 41,318 73 (222 ) 41,169 Equity securities 135 14 — 149 Total available-for-sale investments $ 41,453 $ 87 $ (222 ) $ 41,318
Fair values of available-for-sale investments by classification in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	The fair values of available-for-sale investments by location in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (in millions): December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets locations 2018 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,365 $ 3,291 Marketable securities 22,359 37,878 Other assets — 149 Total available-for-sale investments $ 28,724 $ 41,318
Fair values of available-for-sale interest-bearing security investments by contractual maturity	The fair values of available-for-sale interest-bearing security investments by contractual maturity, except for mortgage- and asset-backed securities that do not have a single maturity date, were as follows (in millions): December 31, Contractual maturities 2018 2017 Maturing in one year or less $ 17,424 $ 6,733 Maturing after one year through three years 3,356 12,820 Maturing after three years through five years 5,168 13,836 Maturing after five years through ten years 885 3,263 Maturing after ten years — 52 Mortgage- and asset-backed securities 1,891 4,465 Total interest-bearing securities $ 28,724 $ 41,169
Available-for-sale securities, continuous unrealized loss position, fair value	The fair values and gross unrealized losses of available-for-sale investments in an unrealized loss position aggregated by type and length of time that the securities have been in a continuous loss position were as follows (in millions): Less than 12 months 12 months or more Types of securities as of December 31, 2018 Fair values Unrealized losses Fair values Unrealized losses U.S. Treasury notes $ 1,219 $ (21 ) $ 1,444 $ (26 ) Other government-related debt securities: U.S. — — 110 (2 ) Foreign and other 631 (31 ) 240 (10 ) Corporate debt securities: Financial 1,968 (59 ) 718 (22 ) Industrial 1,898 (81 ) 529 (18 ) Other 529 (20 ) 28 (1 ) Residential-mortgage-backed securities 576 (14 ) 840 (22 ) Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 17 — 451 (14 ) Total $ 6,838 $ (226 ) $ 4,360 $ (115 ) Less than 12 months 12 months or more Types of securities as of December 31, 2017 Fair values Unrealized losses Fair values Unrealized losses U.S. Treasury notes $ 7,728 $ (70 ) $ 195 $ (2 ) Other government-related debt securities: U.S. 188 (1 ) 34 (1 ) Foreign and other 1,163 (9 ) 115 (2 ) Corporate debt securities: Financial 5,928 (28 ) 462 (6 ) Industrial 5,760 (43 ) 612 (9 ) Other 868 (4 ) 117 (2 ) Residential-mortgage-backed securities 1,838 (24 ) 276 (6 ) Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities 1,777 (12 ) 250 (3 ) Total $ 25,250 $ (191 ) $ 2,061 $ (31 )

Inventories (Tables)

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Raw materials $ 257 $ 232 Work in process 1,660 1,668 Finished goods 1,023 934 Total inventories $ 2,940 $ 2,834

Property, plant and equipment (

Property, plant and equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Components of property, plant and equipment	Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (dollar amounts in millions): December 31, Useful life (in years) 2018 2017 Land — $ 265 $ 283 Buildings and improvements 10-40 3,616 3,507 Manufacturing equipment 8-12 2,418 2,372 Laboratory equipment 8-12 1,174 1,179 Capitalized software 3-5 1,124 1,150 Other 3-15 3,204 3,254 Construction in progress — 953 834 Property, plant and equipment, gross 12,754 12,579 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (7,796 ) (7,590 ) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 4,958 $ 4,989
Property, plant and equipment by geographic information	Certain geographic information with respect to property, plant and equipment, net (long-lived assets), was as follows (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 United States $ 2,373 $ 2,349 Puerto Rico 1,476 1,527 ROW 1,109 1,113 Total property, plant and equipment, net $ 4,958 $ 4,989

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill and intangible assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of goodwill	The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 Beginning balance $ 14,761 $ 14,751 Addition from K-A acquisition 6 — Currency translation adjustments (68 ) 10 Ending balance $ 14,699 $ 14,761
Schedule of identifiable intangible assets	Other intangible assets consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 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 $ 12,573 $ (7,479 ) $ 5,094 $ 12,589 $ (6,796 ) $ 5,793 Licensing rights 3,772 (2,032 ) 1,740 3,275 (1,601 ) 1,674 Marketing-related rights 1,297 (1,019 ) 278 1,319 (920 ) 399 R&D technology rights 1,148 (872 ) 276 1,161 (804 ) 357 Total finite-lived intangible assets 18,790 (11,402 ) 7,388 18,344 (10,121 ) 8,223 Indefinite-lived intangible assets: IPR&D 55 — 55 386 — 386 Total other intangible assets $ 18,845 $ (11,402 ) $ 7,443 $ 18,730 $ (10,121 ) $ 8,609

Accrued liabilities (Tables)

Accrued liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued liabilities	Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Sales deductions $ 3,170 $ 2,247 Employee compensation and benefits 1,001 816 Dividends payable 914 953 Sales returns reserve 535 455 Other 2,242 2,045 Total accrued liabilities $ 7,862 $ 6,516

Financing arrangements (Tables)

Financing arrangements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Carrying values and the fixed contractual coupon rates of long-term borrowings	Our borrowings consisted of the following (in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 6.15% notes due 2018 (6.15% 2018 Notes) $ — $ 500 4.375% €550 million notes due 2018 (4.375% 2018 euro Notes) — 653 5.70% notes due 2019 (5.70% 2019 Notes) 1,000 1,000 1.90% notes due 2019 (1.90% 2019 Notes) 700 700 Floating Rate Notes due 2019 550 550 2.20% notes due 2019 (2.20% 2019 Notes) 1,400 1,400 2.125% €675 million notes due 2019 (2.125% 2019 euro Notes) 774 810 4.50% notes due 2020 (4.50% 2020 Notes) 300 300 2.125% notes due 2020 (2.125% 2020 Notes) 750 750 Floating Rate Notes due 2020 300 300 2.20% notes due 2020 (2.20% 2020 Notes) 700 700 3.45% notes due 2020 (3.45% 2020 Notes) 900 900 4.10% notes due 2021 (4.10% 2021 Notes) 1,000 1,000 1.85% notes due 2021 (1.85% 2021 Notes) 750 750 3.875% notes due 2021 (3.875% 2021 Notes) 1,750 1,750 1.25% €1,250 million notes due 2022 (1.25% 2022 euro Notes) 1,433 1,501 2.70% notes due 2022 (2.70% 2022 Notes) 500 500 2.65% notes due 2022 (2.65% 2022 Notes) 1,500 1,500 3.625% notes due 2022 (3.625% 2022 Notes) 750 750 0.41% CHF700 million bonds due 2023 (0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds) 713 719 2.25% notes due 2023 (2.25% 2023 Notes) 750 750 3.625% notes due 2024 (3.625% 2024 Notes) 1,400 1,400 3.125% notes due 2025 (3.125% 2025 Notes) 1,000 1,000 2.00% €750 million notes due 2026 (2.00% 2026 euro Notes) 860 901 2.60% notes due 2026 (2.60% 2026 Notes) 1,250 1,250 5.50% £475 million notes due 2026 (5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes) 606 642 3.20% notes due 2027 (3.20% 2027 Notes) 1,000 1,000 4.00% £700 million notes due 2029 (4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes) 893 946 6.375% notes due 2037 (6.375% 2037 Notes) 552 552 6.90% notes due 2038 (6.90% 2038 Notes) 291 291 6.40% notes due 2039 (6.40% 2039 Notes) 466 466 5.75% notes due 2040 (5.75% 2040 Notes) 412 412 4.95% notes due 2041 (4.95% 2041 Notes) 600 600 5.15% notes due 2041 (5.15% 2041 Notes) 974 974 5.65% notes due 2042 (5.65% 2042 Notes) 487 487 5.375% notes due 2043 (5.375% 2043 Notes) 261 261 4.40% notes due 2045 (4.40% 2045 Notes) 2,250 2,250 4.563% notes due 2048 (4.563% 2048 Notes) 1,415 1,415 4.663% notes due 2051 (4.663% 2051 Notes) 3,541 3,541 Other notes due 2097 100 100 Unamortized discounts, premiums, issuance costs and fair value adjustments, net (949 ) (929 ) Total carrying value of debt 33,929 35,342 Less current portion (4,419 ) (1,152 ) Total long-term debt $ 29,510 $ 34,190
Schedule of interest rate derivatives	The effective interest rates on notes for which we have entered into interest rate swap contracts and the related notional amounts of these contracts were as follows (dollar amounts in millions): December 31, 2018 2017 Notes Effective interest rates Notional amounts 2.20% 2019 Notes LIBOR + 0.6% $ 1,400 $ 1,400 3.45% 2020 Notes LIBOR + 1.1% 900 900 4.10% 2021 Notes LIBOR + 1.7% 1,000 1,000 3.875% 2021 Notes LIBOR + 2.0% 1,750 1,750 3.625% 2022 Notes LIBOR + 1.6% 750 750 3.625% 2024 Notes LIBOR + 1.4% 1,400 1,400 3.125% 2025 Notes LIBOR + 0.9% 1,000 1,000 2.600% 2026 Notes LIBOR + 0.3% 1,250 1,250 4.663% 2051 Notes LIBOR + 0.0% 1,500 — Total notional amounts $ 10,950 $ 9,450
Aggregate contractual maturities of long-term debt obligations	The aggregate contractual maturities of all borrowings due subsequent to December 31, 2018 , are as follows (in millions): Maturity dates Amounts 2019 $ 4,424 2020 2,950 2021 3,500 2022 4,183 2023 1,463 Thereafter 18,358 Total $ 34,878

Stockholders' equity (Tables)

Stockholders' equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Summary of activity under our stock repurchase program	Activity under our stock repurchase program, on a trade date basis, was as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Shares * Dollars Shares Dollars Shares Dollars First quarter 56.4 $ 10,787 3.4 $ 555 4.7 $ 690 Second quarter 18.2 3,190 6.2 1,006 3.9 591 Third quarter 8.7 1,713 4.4 769 4.4 747 Fourth quarter 11.1 2,165 4.5 796 6.7 999 Total stock repurchases 94.5 $ 17,855 18.5 $ 3,126 19.7 $ 3,027 * Total shares do not add due to rounding.
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income	The components of AOCI were as follows (in millions): Foreign currency translation Cash flow hedges Available-for-sale securities Other AOCI Balance as of December 31, 2015 $ (511 ) $ 297 $ (260 ) $ (6 ) $ (480 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments (93 ) — — — (93 ) Unrealized (losses) gains — (176 ) 63 — (113 ) Reclassification adjustments to income — 139 61 — 200 Other — — — 1 1 Income taxes (6 ) 22 (2 ) — 14 Balance as of December 31, 2016 (610 ) 282 (138 ) (5 ) (471 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments 77 — — — 77 Unrealized gains (losses) — 192 (46 ) — 146 Reclassification adjustments to income — (638 ) 41 — (597 ) Other — — — 5 5 Income taxes 4 158 (1 ) — 161 Balance as of December 31, 2017 (529 ) (6 ) (144 ) — (679 ) Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax (1) — — (9 ) — (9 ) Foreign currency translation adjustments (141 ) — — — (141 ) Unrealized gains (losses) — 61 (556 ) — (495 ) Reclassification adjustments to income — 262 365 — 627 Other — — — (2 ) (2 ) Income taxes — (76 ) 6 — (70 ) Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ (670 ) $ 241 $ (338 ) $ (2 ) $ (769 ) ____________ (1) See Note 1, Summary of significant accounting policies, for additional information regarding the adoption on January 1, 2018, of the new accounting standard related to the classification and measurement of financial instruments and the related cumulative effect from the change in accounting principle.
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income	Reclassifications out of AOCI and into earnings were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Components of AOCI 2018 2017 2016 Consolidated Statements of Income locations Cash flow hedges: Foreign currency contract (losses) gains $ (21 ) $ 65 $ 308 Product sales Cross-currency swap contract (losses) gains (241 ) 574 (446 ) Interest and other income, net Forward interest rate contract losses — (1 ) (1 ) Interest expense, net (262 ) 638 (139 ) Income before income taxes 55 (226 ) 46 Provision for income taxes $ (207 ) $ 412 $ (93 ) Net income Available-for-sale securities: Net realized losses $ (365 ) $ (41 ) $ (61 ) Interest and other income, net 3 (8 ) 11 Provision for income taxes $ (362 ) $ (49 ) $ (50 ) Net income

Fair value measurement (Tables)

Fair value measurement (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value of each major class of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	The fair values of each major class of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions): Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2018, using: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) Total Assets: Interest-bearing securities: U.S. Treasury notes $ 2,663 $ — $ — $ 2,663 U.S. Treasury bills 8,191 — — 8,191 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. — 110 — 110 Foreign and other — 932 — 932 Corporate debt securities: Financial — 2,697 — 2,697 Industrial — 2,504 — 2,504 Other — 562 — 562 Residential-mortgage-backed securities — 1,422 — 1,422 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities — 469 — 469 Money market mutual funds 5,659 — — 5,659 Other short-term interest-bearing securities — 3,515 — 3,515 Equity securities 176 — — 176 Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts — 182 — 182 Cross-currency swap contracts — 170 — 170 Interest rate swap contracts — 56 — 56 Total assets $ 16,689 $ 12,619 $ — $ 29,308 Liabilities: Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts $ — $ 26 $ — $ 26 Cross-currency swap contracts — 401 — 401 Interest rate swap contracts — 149 — 149 Contingent consideration obligations — — 72 72 Total liabilities $ — $ 576 $ 72 $ 648 Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2017, using: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) Total Assets: Interest-bearing securities: U.S. Treasury notes $ 8,242 $ — $ — $ 8,242 Other government-related debt securities: U.S. — 223 — 223 Foreign and other — 2,422 — 2,422 Corporate debt securities: Financial — 10,072 — 10,072 Industrial — 9,670 — 9,670 Other — 1,390 — 1,390 Residential-mortgage-backed securities — 2,168 — 2,168 Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities — 2,297 — 2,297 Money market mutual funds 3,245 — — 3,245 Other short-term interest-bearing securities — 1,440 — 1,440 Equity securities 149 — — 149 Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts — 6 — 6 Cross-currency swap contracts — 270 — 270 Interest rate swap contracts — 10 — 10 Total assets $ 11,636 $ 29,968 $ — $ 41,604 Liabilities: Derivatives: Foreign currency contracts $ — $ 204 $ — $ 204 Cross-currency swap contracts — 220 — 220 Interest rate swap contracts — 61 — 61 Contingent consideration obligations — — 69 69 Total liabilities $ — $ 485 $ 69 $ 554
Change in carrying amounts of contingent consideration obligations	Changes in the carrying amounts of contingent consideration obligations were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 Beginning balance $ 69 $ 179 $ 188 Addition from K-A acquisition 45 — — Net changes in valuations (42 ) (110 ) (9 ) Ending balance $ 72 $ 69 $ 179

Derivative instruments (Tables)

Derivative instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of notional amounts and interest rates for cross-currency swaps	The notional amounts and interest rates of our cross-currency swaps as of December 31, 2018 , were as follows (notional amounts in millions): Foreign currency U.S. dollars Hedged notes Notional amounts Interest rates Notional amounts Interest rates 2.125% 2019 euro Notes € 675 2.1 % $ 864 2.6 % 1.25% 2022 euro Notes € 1,250 1.3 % $ 1,388 3.2 % 0.41 % 2023 Swiss franc Bonds CHF 700 0.4 % $ 704 3.4 % 2.00% 2026 euro Notes € 750 2.0 % $ 833 3.9 % 5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes £ 475 5.5 % $ 747 6.0 % 4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes £ 700 4.0 % $ 1,111 4.5 %
Effective portion of the unrealized gain (loss) recognized in Other Comprehensive Income for our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges	The unrealized gains and losses recognized in AOCI for our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency contracts $ 348 $ (402 ) $ 115 Cross-currency swap contracts (287 ) 581 (281 ) Forward interest rate contracts — 13 (10 ) Total unrealized gains (losses) $ 61 $ 192 $ (176 )
Location in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the effective portion of gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into earnings for our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges	The locations in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the gains and losses reclassified out of AOCI and into earnings for our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships Consolidated Statements of Income locations 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency contracts Product sales $ (21 ) $ 65 $ 308 Cross-currency swap contracts Interest and other income, net (241 ) 574 (446 ) Forward interest rate contracts Interest expense, net — (1 ) (1 ) Total realized (losses) gains $ (262 ) $ 638 $ (139 )
Derivatives in fair value hedging relationships	Net unrealized gains and losses on our outstanding interest rate swap contracts were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives in fair value hedging relationships 2018 2017 2016 Net unrealized losses recognized on interest rate swap contracts $ (42 ) $ (85 ) $ (34 ) Net unrealized gains recognized on related hedged debt $ 42 $ 85 $ 34 The hedged liabilities and related cumulative-basis adjustments for fair value hedges of those liabilities were recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows (in millions): Carrying amounts of hedged liabilities (1) Cumulative amounts of fair value hedging adjustments related to the carrying amounts of the hedged liabilities (2) December 31, December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets locations 2018 2017 2018 2017 Current portion of long-term debt $ 2,396 $ 500 $ (3 ) $ 23 Long-term debt $ 9,361 $ 10,516 $ (50 ) $ (11 ) ____________ (1) Current portion of long-term debt includes $1.0 billion and $500 million of carrying value with discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Long-term debt includes $137 million and $1.1 billion of carrying value with discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. (2) Current portion of long-term debt includes $3 million and $23 million of hedging adjustments on discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. Long-term debt includes $37 million and $40 million of hedging adjustments on discontinued hedging relationships as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively.
Summary of amounts of income and expense line items	The following table summarizes the amounts recorded in income and expense line items and the effects thereon from fair value and cash flow hedging, including discontinued hedging relationships (in millions): Year ended December 31, 2018 Product sales Interest and other income, net Interest (expense), net Total amounts recorded in income and (expense) line items presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income $ 22,533 $ 674 $ (1,392 ) The effects of cash flow and fair value hedging: Losses on cash flow hedging relationships reclassified out of AOCI: Foreign currency contracts $ (21 ) Cross-currency swap contracts $ (241 ) Gains (losses) on fair value hedging relationships—interest rate swap agreements: Hedged items (1) $ 65 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments $ (42 ) __________ (1) The amounts include benefits of $23 million related to the amortization of the cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments included in the carrying amount of the hedged debt for discontinued hedging relationships for the year ended December 31, 2018 .
Location in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings for the derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments	The location in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the amounts of gains (losses) recognized in earnings for our derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments were as follows (in millions): Years ended December 31, Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments Consolidated Statements of Income location 2018 2017 2016 Foreign currency contracts Interest and other income, net $ 34 $ 24 $ (56 )
Fair values of derivatives included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	The fair values of derivatives included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (in millions): Derivative assets Derivative liabilities December 31, 2018 Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Foreign currency contracts Other current assets/ Other assets $ 181 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities $ 26 Cross-currency swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 170 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 401 Interest rate swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 56 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 149 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments 407 576 Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: Foreign currency contracts Other current assets 1 Accrued liabilities — Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments 1 — Total derivatives $ 408 $ 576 Derivative assets Derivative liabilities December 31, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Consolidated Balance Sheets locations Fair values Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Foreign currency contracts Other current assets/ Other assets $ 6 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities $ 204 Cross-currency swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 270 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 220 Interest rate swap contracts Other current assets/ Other assets 10 Accrued liabilities/ Other noncurrent liabilities 61 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments $ 286 $ 485

Contingencies and commitments (

Contingencies and commitments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Minimum future rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases	The following table summarizes the minimum future rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2018 (in millions): Amounts 2019 $ 164 2020 126 2021 113 2022 64 2023 56 Thereafter 46 Total minimum operating lease commitments $ 569
U.S. repatriation tax commitments	Under the 2017 Tax Act, we elected to pay the repatriation tax related primarily to our prior indefinitely invested earnings of our foreign operations in eight annual installments. See Note 7, Income taxes. The following table summarizes the remaining scheduled repatriation tax payments as of December 31, 2018 (in millions): Amounts 2019 $ 586 2020 586 2021 586 2022 586 2023 1,099 Thereafter 3,296 Total remaining U.S. repatriation tax commitments $ 6,739

Major customers (Tables)

Major customers (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Revenues earned from major customers	Certain information with respect to these customers was as follows (dollar amounts in millions): Years ended December 31, 2018 2017 2016 AmerisourceBergen Corporation: Gross product sales $ 12,091 $ 10,742 $ 10,100 % of total gross revenues 33 % 31 % 31 % % of U.S. gross product sales 39 % 37 % 38 % McKesson Corporation: Gross product sales $ 11,434 $ 10,625 $ 9,710 % of total gross revenues 31 % 30 % 30 % % of U.S. gross product sales 35 % 35 % 34 % Cardinal Health, Inc.: Gross product sales $ 7,475 $ 7,049 $ 6,520 % of total gross revenues 20 % 20 % 20 % % of U.S. gross product sales 24 % 24 % 24 %

Quarterly financial data (una_2

Quarterly financial data (unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)	Quarterly financial data is summarized as follows (in millions, except per-share data): 2018 Quarters ended December 31 September 30 June 30 March 31 Product sales $ 6,001 $ 5,510 $ 5,679 $ 5,343 Gross profit from product sales $ 4,905 $ 4,473 $ 4,655 $ 4,399 Net income $ 1,928 $ 1,859 $ 2,296 $ 2,311 Earnings per share: Basic $ 3.04 $ 2.88 $ 3.50 $ 3.27 Diluted $ 3.01 $ 2.86 $ 3.48 $ 3.25 2017 Quarters ended December 31 September 30 June 30 March 31 Product sales $ 5,569 $ 5,453 $ 5,574 $ 5,199 Gross profit from product sales $ 4,510 $ 4,463 $ 4,550 $ 4,203 Net (loss) income $ (4,264 ) $ 2,021 $ 2,151 $ 2,071 (Loss) earnings per share: Basic $ (5.89 ) $ 2.78 $ 2.93 $ 2.81 Diluted (1) $ (5.89 ) $ 2.76 $ 2.91 $ 2.79 ____________ (1) During periods of net loss, diluted loss per share is equal to basic loss per share because the antidilutive effect of potential common shares is disregarded.

Summary of significant accoun_3

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)segment	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of business segment | segment	1
Change in estimate of sales deductions for prior period sales as a pct of total sales deductions (less than)	1.00%
Sales return provisions as a percentage of gross product sales (less than)	1.00%
Advertising cost	$ 674	$ 620	$ 489
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accumulated deficit	$ (17,977)	(5,072)
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accumulated deficit		$ 25
Minimum [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue payment term	30 days
Minimum [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease, liability				$ 400
Operating lease, Right-of-use asset				400
Maximum [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue payment term	120 days
Maximum [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease, liability				450
Operating lease, Right-of-use asset				$ 450

Restructuring (Details)

Restructuring (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring costs	$ 12	$ 88	$ 37
Separation and other headcount-related costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total costs incurred to date	548
Asset-related charges [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total costs incurred to date	$ 261

Business combinations (Textual)

Business combinations (Textual) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 14,699	$ 14,761	$ 14,761	$ 14,751
Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (K-A) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of voting interests acquired	50.00%
Ownership percentage			50.00%
Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (K-A) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of voting interests acquired	50.00%
Ownership interest in acquiree prior to acquisition (as a percent)	50.00%
Net gain on remeasurement	$ 80
Cash paid	780
Estimated fair values of contingent consideration obligations	45
Fair value of assets acquired, cash	977
Fair value of liabilities assumed, deferred tax liabilities	102
Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, net other assets and liabilities	131
Goodwill	6
Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (K-A) [Member] | Licensing rights [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of assets acquired, licensing rights	$ 470
Weighted average period of amortization	4 years

Business combinations (Aggregat

Business combinations (Aggregate Consideration Paid) (Details) - Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (K-A) [Member] $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total cash paid to Kirin	$ 780
Fair value of contingent consideration obligation	45
Loss on settlement of preexisting relationship	(168)
Total consideration transferred to acquire K-A	657
Fair value of Amgen’s investment in K-A	825
Total acquisition date fair value	$ 1,482

Revenues (Details)

Revenues (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)segment	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Number of operating segments | segment									1
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues									$ 23,747	$ 22,849	$ 22,991
US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues									18,358	18,029	18,326
ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues									5,389	4,820	4,665
Product sales [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales	$ 6,001	$ 5,510	$ 5,679	$ 5,343	$ 5,569	$ 5,453	$ 5,574	$ 5,199	22,533	21,795	21,892
Hedging gains											308
Product sales [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									17,429	17,131	17,325
Product sales [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									5,104	4,664	4,567
Enbrel® (etanercept) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									5,014	5,433	5,965
Enbrel® (etanercept) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									4,807	5,206	5,719
Enbrel® (etanercept) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									207	227	246
Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									4,475	4,534	4,648
Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									3,866	3,931	3,925
Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									609	603	723
Prolia® (denosumab) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									2,291	1,968	1,635
Prolia® (denosumab) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,500	1,272	1,049
Prolia® (denosumab) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									791	696	586
Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,877	2,053	2,093
Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									942	1,114	1,082
Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									935	939	1,011
XGEVA® (denosumab) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,786	1,575	1,529
XGEVA® (denosumab) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,338	1,157	1,115
XGEVA® (denosumab) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									448	418	414
Sensipar® / Mimpara® (cinacalcet) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,774	1,718	1,582
Sensipar® / Mimpara® (cinacalcet) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,436	1,374	1,240
Sensipar® / Mimpara® (cinacalcet) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									338	344	342
EPOGEN® (epoetin alfa) [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,010	1,096	1,282
EPOGEN® (epoetin alfa) [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,010	1,096	1,282
EPOGEN® (epoetin alfa) [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									0	0	0
Other products [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									4,306	3,418	3,158
Other products [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									2,530	1,981	1,913
Other products [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total product sales									1,776	1,437	1,245
Other revenues [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,214	1,054	1,099
Other revenues [Member] | US [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues									929	898	1,001
Other revenues [Member] | ROW [Member]
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Total revenues									$ 285	$ 156	$ 98

Stock-based compensation (Textu

Stock-based compensation (Textual) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Amount by which the pool of available shares will be reduced for each stock option granted	1
The amount of common stock available under the plan for future grants and/or issuances (in shares)	32,000,000
Description of vesting of restricted stock units and stock options	RSUs and stock options generally vest in equal amounts on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date.
Number of common shares issued for each performance unit earned	1
RSUs [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
The number of shares by which the pool of available shares will be reduced for other types of awards granted	1.9
Number of shares added back for tax withholding on full value awards	1.9
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted (in usd per share)	$ 179.18	$ 163.99	$ 156.76
Total fair value of units that vested during the year	$ 167	$ 182	$ 193
Units outstanding (in shares)	3,100,000	3,400,000
Weighted-average grant date fair value	$ 168.11	$ 155.11
Units granted (in shares)	1,200,000
Units, forfeited (in shares)	300,000
Weighted average grant date fair value, forfeited (in usd per share)	$ 163.36
RSUs and stock options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards	$ 304
Weighted average number of years over which compensation cost related to nonvested awards is expected to be recognized	1 year 8 months 12 days
Stock options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expiration period of stock options from date of grant	10 years
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the year	$ 53	$ 60	102
Actual tax benefits realized from tax deductions from option exercises	$ 12	$ 21	$ 37
Performance units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
The number of shares by which the pool of available shares will be reduced for other types of awards granted	1.9
Number of shares added back for tax withholding on full value awards	1.9
Weighted average grant date fair value, granted (in usd per share)	$ 189.21	$ 178.87	$ 170.56
Total fair value of units that vested during the year	$ 133	$ 219	$ 347
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards	$ 131
Weighted average number of years over which compensation cost related to nonvested awards is expected to be recognized	1 year
Period over which the grants of equity instruments vest	3 years
Units outstanding (in shares)	2,000,000	2,200,000
Weighted-average grant date fair value	$ 180.12	$ 177.16
Units granted (in shares)	800,000
Units, forfeited (in shares)	200,000
Weighted average grant date fair value, forfeited (in usd per share)	$ 177.95

Stock-based compensation (Compo

Stock-based compensation (Components of Stock-based Compensation Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Components of stock-based compensation expense [Abstract]
Total stock-based compensation expense, pretax	$ 311	$ 329	$ 311
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation expense	(67)	(118)	(112)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	244	211	199
RSUs [Member]
Components of stock-based compensation expense [Abstract]
Total stock-based compensation expense, pretax	165	174	177
Performance units [Member]
Components of stock-based compensation expense [Abstract]
Total stock-based compensation expense, pretax	117	133	123
Stock options [Member]
Components of stock-based compensation expense [Abstract]
Total stock-based compensation expense, pretax	$ 29	$ 22	$ 11

Stock-based compensation (Summa

Stock-based compensation (Summary of RSUs) (Details) - RSUs [Member] - $ / shares shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Units
Balance nonvested at beginning of period (in shares)	3.4
Granted (in shares)	1.2
Vested (in shares)	(1.2)
Forfeited (in shares)	(0.3)
Balance nonvested at end of period (in shares)	3.1	3.4
Weighted-average grant date fair value
Balance nonvested at beginning of period (in usd per share)	$ 155.11
Granted (in usd per share)	179.18	$ 163.99	$ 156.76
Vested (in usd per share)	142.82
Forfeited (in usd per share)	163.36
Balance nonvested at end of period (in usd per share)	$ 168.11	$ 155.11

Stock-based compensation Stock-

Stock-based compensation Stock-based compensation (Summary of Stock Options) (Details) - Employee Stock Option [Member] - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Closing price of our common stock on grant date (in usd per share)	$ 177.46	$ 162.60	$ 156.35
Volatility	24.60%	22.70%	24.30%
Expected life (in years)	5 years 9 months 18 days	5 years 9 months 18 days	5 years 9 months 18 days
Risk-free interest rate	2.80%	2.10%	1.50%
Expected dividend yield	2.90%	2.80%	2.60%
Granted (in usd per share)	$ 34.60	$ 27.54	$ 27.55

Stock-based compensation (Sum_2

Stock-based compensation (Summary of Stock Options) (Details) - Stock options [Member] $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Options
Balance unexercised at beginning of period (in shares) | shares	4
Granted (in shares) | shares	1.2
Exercised (in shares) | shares	(0.5)
Expired/forfeited (in shares) | shares	(0.3)
Balance unexercised at end of period (in shares) | shares	4.4
Vested or expected to vest (in shares) | shares	4.2
Exercisable (in shares) | shares	1.2
Weighted- average exercise price
Balance unexercised at beginning of period (in usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 127.08
Granted (in usd per share) | $ / shares	177.46
Exercised (in usd per share) | $ / shares	76.68
Expired/forfeited (in usd per share) | $ / shares	163.79
Balance unexercised at end of period (in shares) | $ / shares	143.57
Weighted-average exercise price, vested or expected to vest (in usd per share) | $ / shares	142.09
Weighted-average exercise price, exercisable (in usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 84.01
Stock options information [Abstract]
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years), unexercised	7 years
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years), vested or expected to vest	6 years 10 months 25 days
Weighted-average remaining contractual life (years), exercisable	3 years 3 months 19 days
Aggregate intrinsic value, unexercised | $	$ 225
Aggregate intrinsic value, vested or expected to vest | $	220
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable | $	$ 135

Stock-based compensation (Weigh

Stock-based compensation (Weighted-average Assumptions) (Details) - Performance units [Member] - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Weighted-average assumptions and resulting weighted-average grant date fair values [Abstract]
Closing price of our common stock on grant date (in usd per share)	$ 177.93	$ 162.60	$ 156.35
Volatility	23.80%	25.90%	25.80%
Risk-free interest rate	2.60%	1.40%	0.90%
Fair value of unit (in usd per share)	$ 189.21	$ 178.87	$ 170.56

Defined contribution plan (Deta

Defined contribution plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Expense attributed to Retirement and Savings Plan	$ 173	$ 196	$ 174

Income taxes (Income Before Inc

Income taxes (Income Before Income Taxes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	$ 9,545	$ 9,597	$ 9,163
Domestic [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	4,856	4,436	4,478
Foreign [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	$ 4,689	$ 5,161	$ 4,685

Income taxes (Provision for Inc

Income taxes (Provision for Income Taxes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current provision:
Federal	$ 1,270	$ 8,615	$ 984
State	17	5	65
Foreign	227	275	176
Total current provision	1,514	8,895	1,225
Deferred (benefit) provision:
Federal	(317)	(1,120)	372
State	(7)	0	(69)
Foreign	(39)	(157)	(87)
Total deferred (benefit) provision	(363)	(1,277)	216
Total provision for income taxes	$ 1,151	$ 7,618	$ 1,441

Income taxes (Components of Def

Income taxes (Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred income tax assets:
NOL and credit carryforwards	$ 810	$ 812
Accrued expenses	428	362
Expenses capitalized for tax	185	155
Stock-based compensation	95	99
Other	174	154
Total deferred income tax assets	1,692	1,582
Valuation allowance	(509)	(497)
Net deferred income tax assets	1,183	1,085
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Acquired intangible assets	(1,509)	(1,748)
Debt	(184)	(184)
Other	(267)	(240)
Total deferred income tax liabilities	(1,960)	(2,172)
Total deferred income taxes, net	$ (777)	$ (1,087)

Income taxes (Textual) (Details

Income taxes (Textual) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income taxes paid	$ 1,900,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,100,000,000
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits recognized in income tax provision	137,000,000	56,000,000	$ 125,000,000
Accrued interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits	469,000,000	$ 332,000,000
Federal [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards available to reduce income taxes	20,000,000
Tax credit carryforwards, valuation allowance	0
NOL carryforwards available to reduce income taxes	145,000,000
NOL carryforwards, valuation allowance	6,000,000
Federal [Member] | Operating Losses That Expire Between 2020 and 2035 [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
NOL carryforwards, valuation allowance	0
State [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards available to reduce income taxes	556,000,000
Tax credit carryforwards, valuation allowance	444,000,000
NOL carryforwards available to reduce income taxes	287,000,000
NOL carryforwards, valuation allowance	263,000,000
State [Member] | Expiration in tax years beginning 2022 [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards, valuation allowance	0
State [Member] | Operating Losses That Expire Between 2019 and 2032 [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
NOL carryforwards, valuation allowance	0
Foreign [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
NOL carryforwards available to reduce income taxes	1,800,000,000
NOL carryforwards, valuation allowance	485,000,000
NOLs with no valuation allowance and no expiration	620,000,000
Foreign [Member] | Operating Losses With No Expiry [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
NOL carryforwards, valuation allowance	$ 0

Income taxes (Reconciliation of

Income taxes (Reconciliation of Total Gross Amounts of UTBs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reconciliation of total gross amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (excluding interest, penalties, foreign tax credits and the federal tax benefit of state taxes related to unrecognized tax benefits)
Beginning balance	$ 2,953	$ 2,543	$ 2,114
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	173	447	425
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years	13	1	18
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(17)	(5)	(7)
Reductions for expiration of statute of limitations	0	(5)	0
Settlements	(61)	(28)	(7)
Ending balance	$ 3,061	$ 2,953	$ 2,543

Income taxes (Reconciliation _2

Income taxes (Reconciliation of Federal Statutory Tax Rate) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Federal statutory tax rate	21.00%	35.00%	35.00%
2017 Tax Act, net repatriation tax	0.00%	70.70%	0.00%
Foreign earnings	(4.30%)	(15.80%)	(15.50%)
2017 Tax Act, net deferred tax remeasurement	0.00%	(6.90%)	0.00%
Credits, Puerto Rico Excise Tax	(2.50%)	(2.20%)	(2.30%)
2017 Tax Act, net impact on intercompany sales	(1.80%)	(0.00%)	(0.00%)
Interest on uncertain tax positions	1.20%	0.60%	0.50%
Credits, primarily federal R&D	(0.80%)	(0.60%)	(0.70%)
Share-based payments	(0.20%)	(0.70%)	(1.30%)
Other, net	(0.50%)	(0.70%)	0.00%
Effective tax rate	12.10%	79.40%	15.70%

Earnings per share (Details)

Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income (Numerator):
Net income for basic and diluted EPS	$ 1,928	$ 1,859	$ 2,296	$ 2,311	$ (4,264)	$ 2,021	$ 2,151	$ 2,071	$ 8,394	$ 1,979	$ 7,722
Shares (Denominator):
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS									661	731	748
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)									4	4	6
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS									665	735	754
Basic EPS (in usd per share)	$ 3.04	$ 2.88	$ 3.50	$ 3.27	$ (5.89)	$ 2.78	$ 2.93	$ 2.81	$ 12.70	$ 2.71	$ 10.32
Diluted EPS (in usd per share)	$ 3.01	$ 2.86	$ 3.48	$ 3.25	$ (5.89)	$ 2.76	$ 2.91	$ 2.79	$ 12.62	$ 2.69	$ 10.24

Collaborations (Novartis AG) (D

Collaborations (Novartis AG) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 23,747	$ 22,849	$ 22,991
Other revenues [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Revenues	1,214	1,054	1,099
Collaborative Arrangement with Novartis AG [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Potential future milestone payment	100
Collaborative Arrangement with Novartis AG [Member] | Other revenues [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Revenues	295	60
Collaborative Arrangement with Novartis AG [Member] | Selling, general and administrative [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Cost paid	44
Collaborative Arrangement with Novartis AG [Member] | Research and development [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Cost recoveries		$ 124	$ 33
Collaborative Arrangement with Novartis AG [Member] | Cost of sales [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Royalties due	$ 43

Collaborations (Bayer HealthCar

Collaborations (Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.) (Details) - Collaborative Arrangement with Bayer [Member] $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)country	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Nexavar [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Number of countries product is marketed and sold | country	100
Collaboration, royalty percentage in the high 30s	30.00%
Percentage of net profits after deducting certain partner related costs	50.00%
Nexavar [Member] | Other revenues [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaboration profit	$ 164	$ 161	$ 167
Royalty [Member] | Other revenues [Member]
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 91	$ 133	$ 137

Related party transactions (Det

Related party transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2018
Kirin-Amgen, Inc. (K-A) [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of voting interests acquired			50.00%
Kirin-Amgen [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership interest (in percent) in related party	50.00%
Kirin-Amgen [Member] | Noncurrent other assets [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Approximate carrying value of the company's equity method investment	$ 570
Kirin-Amgen [Member] | Accrued liabilities [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount due to related party	80
Kirin-Amgen [Member] | Selling, general and administrative [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Company's share of profits (losses) of related party	68	$ 58
Kirin-Amgen [Member] | Cost of sales [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Royalties earned by related party from Amgen	221	239
Kirin-Amgen [Member] | Other revenues [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenues earned by Amgen from related party	$ 28	$ 31

Investments (Schedule) (Details

Investments (Schedule) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt securities
Amortized cost	$ 29,064
Gross unrealized gains	1
Gross unrealized losses	(341)
Fair values	28,724	$ 41,169
Equity securities
Amortized cost		135
Gross unrealized gains		14
Gross unrealized losses		0
Fair values		149
Amortized cost		41,453
Gross unrealized gains		87
Gross unrealized losses		(222)
Fair values		41,318
U.S. Treasury notes [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	2,710	8,313
Gross unrealized gains	0	1
Gross unrealized losses	(47)	(72)
Fair values	2,663	8,242
U.S. Treasury bills [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	8,191
Gross unrealized gains	0
Gross unrealized losses	0
Fair values	8,191
Other government-related debt securities - U.S. [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	112	225
Gross unrealized gains	0	0
Gross unrealized losses	(2)	(2)
Fair values	110	223
Other government-related debt securities - Foreign and other [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	972	2,415
Gross unrealized gains	1	18
Gross unrealized losses	(41)	(11)
Fair values	932	2,422
Corporate debt securities - Financial [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	2,778	10,089
Gross unrealized gains	0	17
Gross unrealized losses	(81)	(34)
Fair values	2,697	10,072
Corporate debt securities - Industrial [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	2,603	9,688
Gross unrealized gains	0	34
Gross unrealized losses	(99)	(52)
Fair values	2,504	9,670
Corporate debt securities - Other [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	583	1,393
Gross unrealized gains	0	3
Gross unrealized losses	(21)	(6)
Fair values	562	1,390
Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	1,458	2,198
Gross unrealized gains	0	0
Gross unrealized losses	(36)	(30)
Fair values	1,422	2,168
Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	483	2,312
Gross unrealized gains	0	0
Gross unrealized losses	(14)	(15)
Fair values	469	2,297
Money market mutual funds [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	5,659	3,245
Gross unrealized gains	0	0
Gross unrealized losses	0	0
Fair values	5,659	3,245
Other short-term interest-bearing securities [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost	3,515	1,440
Gross unrealized gains	0	0
Gross unrealized losses	0	0
Fair values	$ 3,515	1,440
Total interest-bearing securities [Member]
Debt securities
Amortized cost		41,318
Gross unrealized gains		73
Gross unrealized losses		(222)
Fair values		$ 41,169

Investments (Fair Values by Cla

Investments (Fair Values by Classification) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidated Balance Sheets locations
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 6,945	$ 3,800	$ 3,241	$ 4,144
Marketable securities	22,359	37,878
Other assets	1,698	2,119
Total available-for-sale investments	28,724	41,169
Total available-for-sale investments		41,318
Available-for-sale investments [Member]
Consolidated Balance Sheets locations
Cash and cash equivalents	6,365	3,291
Marketable securities	22,359	37,878
Other assets	0	149
Total available-for-sale investments	$ 28,724
Total available-for-sale investments		$ 41,318

Investments (Available-for-sale

Investments (Available-for-sale, Textual) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 580	$ 509
Total realized gains	29	147	$ 304
Total realized losses	$ 394	$ 213	$ 367

Investments (Fair Values by Con

Investments (Fair Values by Contractual Maturity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Maturing in one year or less	$ 17,424	$ 6,733
Maturing after one year through three years	3,356	12,820
Maturing after three years through five years	5,168	13,836
Maturing after five years through ten years	885	3,263
Maturing after ten years	0	52
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities	1,891	4,465
Total available-for-sale investments	$ 28,724	$ 41,169

Investments (Unrealized Losses

Investments (Unrealized Losses and Fair Values) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	$ 6,838	$ 25,250
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	(226)	(191)
12 months or more, Fair values	4,360	2,061
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(115)	(31)
U.S. Treasury notes [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	1,219	7,728
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	(21)	(70)
12 months or more, Fair values	1,444	195
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(26)	(2)
Other government-related debt securities - U.S. [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	0	188
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	0	(1)
12 months or more, Fair values	110	34
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(2)	(1)
Other government-related debt securities - Foreign and other [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	631	1,163
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	(31)	(9)
12 months or more, Fair values	240	115
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(10)	(2)
Corporate debt securities - Financial [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	1,968	5,928
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	(59)	(28)
12 months or more, Fair values	718	462
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(22)	(6)
Corporate debt securities - Industrial [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	1,898	5,760
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	(81)	(43)
12 months or more, Fair values	529	612
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(18)	(9)
Corporate debt securities - Other [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	529	868
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	(20)	(4)
12 months or more, Fair values	28	117
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(1)	(2)
Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	576	1,838
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	(14)	(24)
12 months or more, Fair values	840	276
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	(22)	(6)
Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities [Member]
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Less than 12 months, Fair values	17	1,777
Less than 12 months, Unrealized losses	0	(12)
12 months or more, Fair values	451	250
12 months or more, Unrealized losses	$ (14)	$ (3)

Investments (Equity Securities)

Investments (Equity Securities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Equity securities	$ 176	$ 149
Equity securities without readily determinable fair value	$ 222	$ 95

Investments (Limited Partnershi

Investments (Limited Partnership Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Limited Partnership [Member] | Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Investments	$ 285	$ 213

Inventories (Details)

Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 257	$ 232
Work in process	1,660	1,668
Finished goods	1,023	934
Total inventories	$ 2,940	$ 2,834

Property, plant and equipment_2

Property, plant and equipment (Schedule) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land	$ 265	$ 283
Buildings and improvements	3,616	3,507
Manufacturing equipment	2,418	2,372
Laboratory equipment	1,174	1,179
Capitalized software	1,124	1,150
Other	3,204	3,254
Construction in progress	953	834
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,754	12,579
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(7,796)	(7,590)
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,958	4,989
Depreciation and amortization charges associated with property, plant and equipment	$ 630	$ 604	$ 619
Buildings and improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	10 years
Buildings and improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	40 years
Manufacturing equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	8 years
Manufacturing equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	12 years
Laboratory equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	8 years
Laboratory equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	12 years
Capitalized software [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	3 years
Capitalized software [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	5 years
Other [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	3 years
Other [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	15 years

Property, plant and equipment_3

Property, plant and equipment (Geographic Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 4,958	$ 4,989
United States [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,373	2,349
Puerto Rico [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,476	1,527
ROW [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 1,109	$ 1,113

Goodwill and intangible asset_2

Goodwill and intangible assets (Goodwill Roll Forward) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 14,761	$ 14,751
Addition from K-A acquisition	6	0
Currency translation adjustments	(68)	10
Ending balance	$ 14,699	$ 14,761

Goodwill and intangible asset_3

Goodwill and intangible assets (Identifiable Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Gross carrying amounts	$ 18,790	$ 18,344
Accumulated amortization	(11,402)	(10,121)
Other intangible assets, net	7,388	8,223
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Identifiable intangible assets	18,845	18,730
Accumulated amortization	(11,402)	(10,121)
Identifiable intangible assets, net	7,443	8,609
IPR&D [Member]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	55	386
Developed product technology rights [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Gross carrying amounts	12,573	12,589
Accumulated amortization	(7,479)	(6,796)
Other intangible assets, net	5,094	5,793
Licensing rights [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Gross carrying amounts	3,772	3,275
Accumulated amortization	(2,032)	(1,601)
Other intangible assets, net	1,740	1,674
Marketing-related rights [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Gross carrying amounts	1,297	1,319
Accumulated amortization	(1,019)	(920)
Other intangible assets, net	278	399
R&D technology rights [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Gross carrying amounts	1,148	1,161
Accumulated amortization	(872)	(804)
Other intangible assets, net	$ 276	$ 357

Goodwill and intangible asset_4

Goodwill and intangible assets (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Amortization charges associated with finite-lived intangible assets	$ 1,300	$ 1,300	$ 1,500
Total estimated amortization of finite-lived intangible assets for 2019	1,300
Total estimated amortization of finite-lived intangible assets for 2020	1,200
Total estimated amortization of finite-lived intangible assets for 2021	1,000
Total estimated amortization of finite-lived intangible assets for 2022	900
Total estimated amortization of finite-lived intangible assets for 2023	900
Other operating income (expense) [Member] | IPR&D [Member] | AMG 899 [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
IPR&D impairment charge	$ 330	$ 400

Accrued liabilities (Details)

Accrued liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Sales deductions	$ 3,170	$ 2,247
Employee compensation and benefits	1,001	816
Dividends payable	914	953
Sales returns reserve	535	455
Other	2,242	2,045
Total accrued liabilities	$ 7,862	$ 6,516

Financing arrangements (Princip

Financing arrangements (Principal Amounts and Carrying Value of Long-term Borrowings) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2018CHF (SFr)	Dec. 31, 2018GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Unamortized discounts, premiums, issuance costs and fair value adjustments, net	$ (949)				$ (929)
Total carrying value of debt	33,929				35,342
Less current portion	(4,419)				(1,152)
Total long-term debt	$ 29,510				34,190
0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%
5.50% pound-sterling-denominated notes due 2026 (5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%
Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount					4,500	$ 6,700
Notes [Member] | 6.15% notes due 2018 (6.15% 2018 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	6.15%	6.15%	6.15%	6.15%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 0				500
Notes [Member] | 4.375% euro-denominated notes due 2018 (4.375% 2018 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.375%	4.375%	4.375%	4.375%
Face amount | €		€ 550,000,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross					653
Notes [Member] | 5.70% notes due 2019 (5.70% 2019 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.70%	5.70%	5.70%	5.70%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,000				$ 1,000
Notes [Member] | 1.90% notes due 2019 (1.90% 2019 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.90%	1.90%	1.90%	1.90%	1.90%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 700				$ 700
Notes [Member] | Floating rate notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 550				550
Notes [Member] | 2.20% notes due 2019 (2.20% 2019 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.20%	2.20%	2.20%	2.20%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,400				1,400
Notes [Member] | 2.125% euro-denominated notes due 2019 (2.125% 2019 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%
Face amount | €		€ 675,000,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 774				810
Notes [Member] | 4.50% notes due 2020 (4.50% 2020 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 300				300
Notes [Member] | 2.125% notes due 2020 (2.125% 2020 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 750				750
Notes [Member] | Floating Rate Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 300				$ 300
Notes [Member] | 2.20% notes due 2020 (2.20% 2020 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.20%	2.20%	2.20%	2.20%	2.20%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 700				$ 700
Notes [Member] | 3.45% notes due 2020 (3.45% 2020 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.45%	3.45%	3.45%	3.45%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 900				900
Notes [Member] | 4.10% notes due 2021 (4.10% 2021 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.10%	4.10%	4.10%	4.10%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,000				1,000
Notes [Member] | 1.85% notes due 2021 (1.85% 2021 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.85%	1.85%	1.85%	1.85%		1.85%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 750				750
Notes [Member] | 3.875% notes due 2021 (3.875% 2021 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.875%	3.875%	3.875%	3.875%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,750				1,750
Notes [Member] | 1.25% notes due 2022 (1.25% 2022 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.25%	1.25%	1.25%	1.25%		1.25%
Face amount | €		€ 1,250,000,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,433				1,501
Notes [Member] | 2.70% notes due 2022 (2.70% 2022 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.70%	2.70%	2.70%	2.70%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 500				$ 500
Notes [Member] | 2.65% notes due 2022 (2.65% 2022 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.65%	2.65%	2.65%	2.65%	2.65%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,500				$ 1,500
Notes [Member] | 3.625% notes due 2022 (3.625% 2022 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.625%	3.625%	3.625%	3.625%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 750				750
Notes [Member] | 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%		0.41%
Face amount | SFr			SFr 700,000,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 713				719
Notes [Member] | 2.25% notes due 2023 (2.25% 2023 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.25%	2.25%	2.25%	2.25%		2.25%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 750				750
Notes [Member] | 3.625% notes due 2024 (3.625% 2024 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.625%	3.625%	3.625%	3.625%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,400				1,400
Notes [Member] | 3.125% notes due 2025 (3.125% 2025 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.125%	3.125%	3.125%	3.125%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,000				1,000
Notes [Member] | 2.00% 2026 euro Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%		2.00%
Face amount | €		€ 750,000,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 860				901
Notes [Member] | 2.60% notes due 2026 (2.60% 2026 notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.60%	2.60%	2.60%	2.60%		2.60%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,250				1,250
Notes [Member] | 5.50% pound-sterling-denominated notes due 2026 (5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%
Face amount | £				£ 475,000,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 606				$ 642
Notes [Member] | 3.20% notes due 2027 (3.20% 2027 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.20%	3.20%	3.20%	3.20%	3.20%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,000				$ 1,000
Notes [Member] | 4.00% pound-sterling-denominated notes due 2029 (4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Face amount | £				£ 700,000,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 893				946
Notes [Member] | 6.375% notes due 2037 (6.375% 2037 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	6.375%	6.375%	6.375%	6.375%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 552				552
Notes [Member] | 6.90% notes due 2038 (6.90% 2038 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	6.90%	6.90%	6.90%	6.90%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 291				291
Notes [Member] | 6.40% notes due 2039 (6.40% 2039 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	6.40%	6.40%	6.40%	6.40%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 466				466
Notes [Member] | 5.75% notes due 2040 (5.75% 2040 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.75%	5.75%	5.75%	5.75%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 412				412
Notes [Member] | 4.95% notes due 2041 (4.95% 2041 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.95%	4.95%	4.95%	4.95%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 600				600
Notes [Member] | 5.15% notes due 2041 (5.15% 2041 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.15%	5.15%	5.15%	5.15%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 974				974
Notes [Member] | 5.65% notes due 2042 (5.65% 2042 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.65%	5.65%	5.65%	5.65%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 487				487
Notes [Member] | 5.375% notes due 2043 (5.375% 2043 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.375%	5.375%	5.375%	5.375%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 261				261
Notes [Member] | 4.40% notes due 2045 (4.40% 2045 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.40%	4.40%	4.40%	4.40%		4.40%
Face amount						$ 1,000
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 2,250				2,250
Notes [Member] | 4.563% notes due 2048 (4.563% 2048 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.563%	4.563%	4.563%	4.563%		4.563%
Face amount						$ 1,400
Effective interest rate on note	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%	6.30%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,415				1,415
Notes [Member] | 4.663% notes due 2051 (4.663% 2051 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.663%	4.663%	4.663%	4.663%		4.663%
Face amount						$ 3,500
Effective interest rate on note	5.60%	5.60%	5.60%	5.60%
Percentage of principal amount of notes that may be paid upon occurrence of change in control triggering event	101.00%
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 3,541				3,541
Notes [Member] | Other notes due 2097 [Member]
Carrying values of long-term borrowings
Long-term debt, gross	$ 100				$ 100
Debt securities payable [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption period without payment of make whole amount	1 month
Debt securities payable [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption period without payment of make whole amount	6 months

Financing arrangements (Debt Is

Financing arrangements (Debt Issuances) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2018CHF (SFr)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Short-term loan					$ 605,000,000
Commercial paper, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 2,500,000,000
Commercial paper issued	$ 12,300,000,000
Commercial paper repaid	12,300,000,000
Commercial paper, maximum outstanding	1,500,000,000
0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage		0.41%	0.41%	0.41%
Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued	$ 4,500,000,000				$ 6,700,000,000
Notes [Member] | 1.90% notes due 2019 (1.90% 2019 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.90%	1.90%	1.90%	1.90%
Notes [Member] | 2.20% notes due 2020 (2.20% 2020 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.20%	2.20%	2.20%	2.20%
Notes [Member] | 2.65% notes due 2022 (2.65% 2022 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.65%	2.65%	2.65%	2.65%
Notes [Member] | 3.20% notes due 2027 (3.20% 2027 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.20%	3.20%	3.20%	3.20%
Notes [Member] | 1.85% notes due 2021 (1.85% 2021 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage		1.85%	1.85%	1.85%	1.85%
Notes [Member] | 1.25% notes due 2022 (1.25% 2022 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued | €			€ 1,250,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage		1.25%	1.25%	1.25%	1.25%
Notes [Member] | 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued | SFr				SFr 700,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage		0.41%	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%
Notes [Member] | 2.25% notes due 2023 (2.25% 2023 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage		2.25%	2.25%	2.25%	2.25%
Notes [Member] | 2.00% 2026 euro Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued | €			€ 750,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage		2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Notes [Member] | 2.60% notes due 2026 (2.60% 2026 notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage		2.60%	2.60%	2.60%	2.60%
Notes [Member] | 4.40% notes due 2045 (4.40% 2045 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued					$ 1,000,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage		4.40%	4.40%	4.40%	4.40%
Debt instrument, unamortized premium					$ 79,000,000

Financing arrangements (Debt Re

Financing arrangements (Debt Repayments) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt	$ 1,121		$ 4,405	$ 3,725
Repayments of short-term debt			605
Notes [Member] | 6.15% notes due 2018 (6.15% 2018 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt	$ 500
Interest rate, stated percentage	6.15%	6.15%
Notes [Member] | 4.375% euro-denominated notes due 2018 (4.375% 2018 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt	$ 621	€ 550
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.375%	4.375%
Notes [Member] | 2.125% notes due 2017 (2.125% 2017 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt			$ 1,250
Interest rate, stated percentage			2.125%
Notes [Member] | Floating rate notes due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt			$ 600
Notes [Member] | 1.25% notes due 2017 (1.25% 2017 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt			$ 850
Interest rate, stated percentage			1.25%
Notes [Member] | 5.85% notes due 2017 (5.85% 2017 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt			$ 1,100
Interest rate, stated percentage			5.85%
Notes [Member] | 2.30% notes due 2016 (2.30% 2016 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt				$ 750
Interest rate, stated percentage				2.30%
Notes [Member] | 2.50% notes due 2016 (2.50% 2016 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt				$ 1,000
Interest rate, stated percentage				2.50%
Term loan due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt				$ 1,975

Financing arrangements (Debt Ex

Financing arrangements (Debt Exchange) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued	$ 6,700		$ 4,500
Notes [Member] | 4.563% notes due 2048 (4.563% 2048 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued	$ 1,400
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.563%	4.563%
Notes [Member] | 4.663% notes due 2051 (4.663% 2051 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount of notes issued	$ 3,500
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.663%	4.663%
Debt securities payable [Member] | New senior notes [Member] | Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized bond discounts and issuance costs	$ 801
Debt related commitment fees and debt issuance costs	$ 24

Financing arrangements (Interes

Financing arrangements (Interest Rate and Cross-currency Swaps) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	0.41%
5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	5.50%
Notes payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 10,950	$ 9,450
Notes payable [Member] | 2.20% notes due 2019 (2.20% 2019 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.20%
Notional amount	$ 1,400	1,400
Notes payable [Member] | 2.20% notes due 2019 (2.20% 2019 Notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	0.60%
Notes payable [Member] | 3.45% notes due 2020 (3.45% 2020 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.45%
Notional amount	$ 900	900
Notes payable [Member] | 3.45% notes due 2020 (3.45% 2020 Notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	1.10%
Notes payable [Member] | 4.10% notes due 2021 (4.10% 2021 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.10%
Notional amount	$ 1,000	1,000
Notes payable [Member] | 4.10% notes due 2021 (4.10% 2021 Notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	1.70%
Notes payable [Member] | 3.875% notes due 2021 (3.875% 2021 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.875%
Notional amount	$ 1,750	1,750
Notes payable [Member] | 3.875% notes due 2021 (3.875% 2021 Notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	2.00%
Notes payable [Member] | 3.625% notes due 2022 (3.625% 2022 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.625%
Notional amount	$ 750	750
Notes payable [Member] | 3.625% notes due 2022 (3.625% 2022 Notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	1.60%
Notes payable [Member] | 3.625% notes due 2024 (3.625% 2024 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.625%
Notional amount	$ 1,400	1,400
Notes payable [Member] | 3.625% notes due 2024 (3.625% 2024 Notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	1.40%
Notes payable [Member] | 3.125% notes due 2025 (3.125% 2025 Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	3.125%
Notional amount	$ 1,000	1,000
Notes payable [Member] | 3.125% notes due 2025 (3.125% 2025 Notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	0.90%
Notes payable [Member] | 2.600% notes due 2026 (2.60% 2026 notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.60%
Notional amount	$ 1,250	1,250
Notes payable [Member] | 2.600% notes due 2026 (2.60% 2026 notes) [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	0.30%
Notes payable [Member] | 2.125% 2019 euro Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.125%
Notes payable [Member] | 1.25% notes due 2022 (1.25% 2022 euro Notes) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	1.25%
Notes payable [Member] | 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	0.41%
Notes payable [Member] | 2.00% 2026 euro Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	2.00%
Notes payable [Member] | 4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.00%
Notes payable [Member] | 4.663% 2051 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, stated percentage	4.663%
Notional amount	$ 1,500	$ 0
Notes payable [Member] | 4.663% 2051 Notes [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, effective interest rate	0.00%

Financing arrangements (Shelf R

Financing arrangements (Shelf Registration Statements and Other Facilities) (Details) - Line of credit [Member] - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum current borrowing capacity under a syndicated, unsecured, revolving credit agreement			$ 2,500,000,000
Amount by which borrowing capacity under a syndicated unsecured revolving credit agreement may be increased upon our request at discretion of banks			$ 500,000,000
Initial commitment term of each bank which is a party to the agreement			5 years
Additional period for extension of commitment term		1 year
Annual commitment fees for syndicated, unsecured, revolving credit agreement	0.09%
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Amount outstanding under syndicated, unsecured, revolving credit facility	$ 0			$ 0

Financing arrangements (Contrac

Financing arrangements (Contractual Maturities of Long-term Debt) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2,019	$ 4,424
2,020	2,950
2,021	3,500
2,022	4,183
2,023	1,463
Thereafter	18,358
Total	$ 34,878

Financing arrangements (Inter_2

Financing arrangements (Interest Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Interest paid, net of interest rate and cross currency swaps	$ 1.5	$ 1.3	$ 1.2

Stockholders' equity (Stock Rep

Stockholders' equity (Stock Repurchase Program) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions	Mar. 08, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2018	Jan. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Stock repurchases, Shares	52.1	11.1	8.7	18.2	56.4	4.5	4.4	6.2	3.4	6.7	4.4	3.9	4.7	94.5	18.5	19.7
Stock repurchases		$ 2,165,000,000	$ 1,713,000,000	$ 3,190,000,000	$ 10,787,000,000	$ 796,000,000	$ 769,000,000	$ 1,006,000,000	$ 555,000,000	$ 999,000,000	$ 747,000,000	$ 591,000,000	$ 690,000,000	$ 17,855,000,000	$ 3,126,000,000	$ 3,027,000,000
Stock repurchase program, additional authorized amount		3,600,000,000												3,600,000,000			$ 5,000,000,000	$ 10,000,000,000
Stock repurchase program, tender offer amount														10,000,000,000
Amount available for stock repurchases under a board approved stock repurchase plan		$ 5,100,000,000												$ 5,100,000,000

Stockholders' equity (Dividends

Stockholders' equity (Dividends) (Details) - $ / shares	Dec. 07, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Equity [Abstract]
Common stock, dividends paid per share (in usd per share)		$ 1.32	$ 1.32	$ 1.32	$ 1.32	$ 1.15	$ 1.15	$ 1.15	$ 1.15	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, dividends declared per share (in usd per share)	$ 1.45													$ 5.41	$ 4.77	$ 4.15

Stockholders' equity (Component

Stockholders' equity (Components of AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 01, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 25,241	$ 29,875	$ 28,083
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net of tax				$ 29
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(141)	81	(99)
Ending Balance	12,500	25,241	29,875
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(529)	(610)	(511)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(141)	77	(93)
Income taxes	0	4	(6)
Ending Balance	(670)	(529)	(610)
Cash flow hedges [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(6)	282	297
Unrealized gains (losses)	61	192	(176)
Reclassification adjustments to income	262	(638)	139
Income taxes	(76)	158	22
Ending Balance	241	(6)	282
Available-for-sale securities [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(144)	(138)	(260)
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net of tax				(9)
Unrealized gains (losses)	(556)	(46)	63
Reclassification adjustments to income	365	41	61
Income taxes	6	(1)	(2)
Ending Balance	(338)	(144)	(138)
Other [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	(5)	(6)
Other	(2)	5	1
Ending Balance	(2)	0	(5)
AOCI [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(679)	(471)	(480)
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net of tax				$ (9)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(141)	77	(93)
Unrealized gains (losses)	(495)	146	(113)
Reclassification adjustments to income	627	(597)	200
Other	(2)	5	1
Income taxes	(70)	161	14
Ending Balance	$ (769)	$ (679)	$ (471)

Stockholders' equity (Accumulat

Stockholders' equity (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Textual) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Equity [Abstract]
Income tax expense or (benefit) for reclassification adjustments to income for available-for-sale securities	$ 3	$ (8)	$ 11
Income taxes expense or (benefit) for unrealized gains and losses for available-for-sale securities	(9)	9	(9)
Income taxes expense or (benefit) for unrealized gains and losses for cash flow hedges	21	68	(68)
Income tax expense or (benefit) reclassification adjustments to income for cash flow hedges	$ 55	$ (226)	$ 46

Stockholders' equity (Reclassif

Stockholders' equity (Reclassifications out of AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									$ 674	$ 928	$ 629
Interest expense, net									(1,392)	(1,304)	(1,260)
Income before income taxes									9,545	9,597	9,163
Provision for income taxes									(1,151)	(7,618)	(1,441)
Net income	$ 1,928	$ 1,859	$ 2,296	$ 2,311	$ (4,264)	$ 2,021	$ 2,151	$ 2,071	8,394	1,979	7,722
Product sales [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 6,001	$ 5,510	$ 5,679	$ 5,343	$ 5,569	$ 5,453	$ 5,574	$ 5,199	22,533	21,795	21,892
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income before income taxes									(262)	638	(139)
Provision for income taxes									55	(226)	46
Net income									(207)	412	(93)
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Available-for-sale securities [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									(365)	(41)	(61)
Provision for income taxes									3	(8)	11
Net income									(362)	(49)	(50)
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income before income taxes									(262)	638	(139)
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Foreign currency contract [Member] | Product sales [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Revenues									(21)
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Foreign currency contract [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member] | Product sales [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Revenues									(21)	65	308
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Cross-currency swap contract [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									(241)
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Cross-currency swap contract [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									(241)	574	(446)
Reclassification out of AOCI [Member] | Forward interest rate contract [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest expense, net									$ 0	$ (1)	$ (1)

Stockholders' equity (Other) (D

Stockholders' equity (Other) (Details) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Equity [Abstract]
Preferred stock shares authorized (in shares)	5,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.0001
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0

Fair value measurement (Fair Va

Fair value measurement (Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities on Recurring Basis) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	$ 28,724	$ 41,169
Equity securities	176	149
Derivatives:
Total assets	29,308	41,604
Derivatives:
Contingent consideration obligations	72	69
Total liabilities	648	554
Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	182	6
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	26	204
Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	170	270
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	401	220
Interest rate swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	56	10
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	149	61
U.S. Treasury notes [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	2,663	8,242
U.S. Treasury bills [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	8,191
Other government-related debt securities - U.S. [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	110	223
Other government-related debt securities - Foreign and other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	932	2,422
Corporate debt securities - Financial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	2,697	10,072
Corporate debt securities - Industrial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	2,504	9,670
Corporate debt securities - Other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	562	1,390
Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	1,422	2,168
Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	469	2,297
Money market mutual funds [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	5,659	3,245
Other short-term interest-bearing securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	3,515	1,440
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member]
Assets:
Equity securities	176	149
Derivatives:
Total assets	16,689	11,636
Derivatives:
Contingent consideration obligations	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Interest rate swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	0	0
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | U.S. Treasury notes [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	2,663	8,242
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | U.S. Treasury bills [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	8,191
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Other government-related debt securities - U.S. [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Other government-related debt securities - Foreign and other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Financial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Industrial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Money market mutual funds [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	5,659	3,245
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] | Other short-term interest-bearing securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Assets:
Equity securities	0	0
Derivatives:
Total assets	12,619	29,968
Derivatives:
Contingent consideration obligations	0	0
Total liabilities	576	485
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	182	6
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	26	204
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	170	270
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	401	220
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Interest rate swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	56	10
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	149	61
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | U.S. Treasury notes [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | U.S. Treasury bills [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Other government-related debt securities - U.S. [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	110	223
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Other government-related debt securities - Foreign and other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	932	2,422
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Financial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	2,697	10,072
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Industrial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	2,504	9,670
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	562	1,390
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	1,422	2,168
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	469	2,297
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Money market mutual funds [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Other short-term interest-bearing securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	3,515	1,440
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Assets:
Equity securities	0	0
Derivatives:
Total assets		0
Derivatives:
Contingent consideration obligations	72	69	$ 179	$ 188
Total liabilities	72	69
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Derivatives:
Foreign currency and cross-currency swap contracts	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Interest rate swap contracts [Member]
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	0	0
Derivatives:
Interest rate swap contracts	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | U.S. Treasury notes [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | U.S. Treasury bills [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other government-related debt securities - U.S. [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other government-related debt securities - Foreign and other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Financial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Industrial [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Corporate debt securities - Other [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Residential mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other mortgage- and asset-backed securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Money market mutual funds [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	0	0
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Other short-term interest-bearing securities [Member]
Assets:
Interest-bearing securities	$ 0	$ 0

Fair value measurement (Changes

Fair value measurement (Changes in Contingent Consideration Obligation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 69
Ending balance	72	$ 69
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	69	179	$ 188
Addition from K-A acquisition	45	0	0
Net changes in valuations	(42)	(110)	(9)
Ending balance	$ 72	$ 69	$ 179

Fair value measurement (Textual

Fair value measurement (Textual) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Length of time hedged in foreign currency contracts	3 years
Aggregate fair value of long-term debt, including current portion	$ 35,000,000,000	$ 38,600,000,000
Carrying value of long-term debt, including current portion	33,929,000,000	35,342,000,000
Other operating income (expense) [Member] | AMG 899 [Member] | IPR&D [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
IPR&D impairment charge	330,000,000	400,000,000
Dezima [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Maximum additional consideration due contingent on certain milestones				$ 1,250,000,000
Estimated fair values of contingent consideration obligations		$ 0	$ 116,000,000	$ 110,000,000
Biovex [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Additional contingent consideration upon achievement of milestones	$ 325,000,000
Other government-related and corporate debt securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Investment maturity period	5 years

Derivative instruments (Textual

Derivative instruments (Textual) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Foreign currency and cross currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Amounts expected to be reclassified from AOCI into earnings over the next 12 months, foreign currency and cross-currency swaps	$ (110)
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign currency forward contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount	4,500	$ 4,600	$ 3,400
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign currency option contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount	21	74	608
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Interest rate swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount	10,950	9,450
Derivative entered during the period	1,500
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign currency forward contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Derivative, notional amount	$ 737	$ 757	$ 666

Derivative Instruments (Cross-c

Derivative Instruments (Cross-currency Swaps) (Details) - Cash flow hedge [Member] - Cross-currency swap contracts [Member] € in Millions, £ in Millions, SFr in Millions, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2018CHF (SFr)	Dec. 31, 2018GBP (£)
2.125% 2019 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amounts	$ 864	€ 675
1.25% 2022 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,388	1,250
0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amounts	704		SFr 700
2.00% 2026 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amounts	833	€ 750
5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amounts	747			£ 475
4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amounts	$ 1,111			£ 700
Euro Member Countries, Euro [Member] | 2.125% 2019 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%	2.125%
Euro Member Countries, Euro [Member] | 1.25% 2022 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	1.25%	1.25%	1.25%	1.25%
Euro Member Countries, Euro [Member] | 2.00% 2026 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Switzerland, Francs [Member] | 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%	0.41%
United Kingdom, Pounds [Member] | 5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%
United Kingdom, Pounds [Member] | 4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
United States of America, Dollars [Member] | 2.125% 2019 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	2.60%	2.60%	2.60%	2.60%
United States of America, Dollars [Member] | 1.25% 2022 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	3.20%	3.20%	3.20%	3.20%
United States of America, Dollars [Member] | 0.41% 2023 Swiss franc Bonds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	3.40%	3.40%	3.40%	3.40%
United States of America, Dollars [Member] | 2.00% 2026 euro Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	3.90%	3.90%	3.90%	3.90%
United States of America, Dollars [Member] | 5.50% 2026 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	6.00%	6.00%	6.00%	6.00%
United States of America, Dollars [Member] | 4.00% 2029 pound sterling Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rates	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%

Derivative Instruments (Effecti

Derivative Instruments (Effective Portion of Unrealized Gain (Loss)) (Details) - Cash flow hedge [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Total unrealized gains (losses)	$ 61	$ 192	$ (176)
Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Total unrealized gains (losses)	348	(402)	115
Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Total unrealized gains (losses)	(287)	581	(281)
Forward interest rate contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Total unrealized gains (losses)	$ 0	$ 13	$ (10)

Derivative instruments (Locatio

Derivative instruments (Locations and Effective Portions of Gain (Loss) Reclassified out of AOCI) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									$ 674	$ 928	$ 629
Interest expense, net									(1,392)	(1,304)	(1,260)
Income before income taxes									9,545	9,597	9,163
Product sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 6,001	$ 5,510	$ 5,679	$ 5,343	$ 5,569	$ 5,453	$ 5,574	$ 5,199	22,533	21,795	21,892
Accumulated net gain (loss) from cash flow hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Income before income taxes									(262)	638	(139)
Accumulated net gain (loss) from cash flow hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member] | Product sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Product sales									(21)
Accumulated net gain (loss) from cash flow hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									(241)
Accumulated net gain (loss) from cash flow hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Income before income taxes									(262)	638	(139)
Accumulated net gain (loss) from cash flow hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member] | Product sales [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Product sales									(21)	65	308
Accumulated net gain (loss) from cash flow hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									(241)	574	(446)
Accumulated net gain (loss) from cash flow hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash flow hedge [Member] | Forward interest rate contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Interest expense, net									$ 0	$ (1)	$ (1)

Derivative instruments Derivati

Derivative instruments Derivative instruments (Fair Value Hedging Relationships) (Details) - Interest expense, net [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Net unrealized losses recognized on interest rate swap contracts	$ (42)	$ (85)	$ (34)
Net unrealized gains recognized on related hedged debt	$ 42	$ 85	$ 34

Derivative instruments Deriva_2

Derivative instruments Derivative instruments (Hedged Liabilities and Cumulative Amount) (Details) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current portion of long-term debt
Derivative [Line Items]
Carrying amounts of hedged liabilities	$ 2,396
Cumulative amounts of fair value hedging adjustments related to the carrying amounts of the hedged liabilities	(3)	$ 23
Carrying value with discontinued hedging relationships	1,000	500
Hedging adjustments on discontinued hedging relationships	3	23
Long-term debt
Derivative [Line Items]
Carrying amounts of hedged liabilities	9,361	10,516
Cumulative amounts of fair value hedging adjustments related to the carrying amounts of the hedged liabilities	(50)	(11)
Carrying value with discontinued hedging relationships	137	1,100
Hedging adjustments on discontinued hedging relationships	$ 37	$ 40

Derivative instruments Deriva_3

Derivative instruments Derivative instruments (Summary of Income and Expense Line Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									$ 674	$ 928	$ 629
Interest expense, net									(1,392)	(1,304)	(1,260)
Amortization of cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments for discontinued hedging relationships									23
Interest rate swap agreements [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Gains (losses) on fair value hedging relationships, Hedged Items									65
Gains (losses) on fair value hedging relationships, Derivatives designated as hedging instruments									(42)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest and other income, net									(241)
Product sales [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 6,001	$ 5,510	$ 5,679	$ 5,343	$ 5,569	$ 5,453	$ 5,574	$ 5,199	22,533	$ 21,795	$ 21,892
Product sales [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash flow hedges [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Product sales									$ (21)

Derivative instruments (Locat_2

Derivative instruments (Locations and Gain (Loss) for Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Foreign currency contracts [Member] | Interest and other income, net [Member]
Derivative Instruments Gain Loss [Line Items]
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in interest and other income, net	$ 34	$ 24	$ (56)

Derivative instruments (Fair Va

Derivative instruments (Fair Value of Derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Total derivative assets, fair value	$ 408
Liabilities
Total derivative liabilities, fair value	576
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Assets
Total derivative assets, fair value	407	$ 286
Liabilities
Total derivative liabilities, fair value	576	485
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member] | Other current assets/Other assets [Member]
Assets
Total derivative assets, fair value	181	6
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities/Other noncurrent liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Total derivative liabilities, fair value	26	204
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member] | Other current assets/Other assets [Member]
Assets
Total derivative assets, fair value	170	270
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Cross-currency swap contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities/Other noncurrent liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Total derivative liabilities, fair value	401	220
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Interest rate swap contracts [Member] | Other current assets/Other assets [Member]
Assets
Total derivative assets, fair value	56	10
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Interest rate swap contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities/Other noncurrent liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Total derivative liabilities, fair value	149	$ 61
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member]
Assets
Total derivative assets, fair value	1
Liabilities
Total derivative liabilities, fair value	0
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member] | Other current assets [Member]
Assets
Total derivative assets, fair value	1
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign currency contracts [Member] | Accrued liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Total derivative liabilities, fair value	$ 0

Contingencies and commitments_2

Contingencies and commitments (Sensipar ANDA Patent Litigation) (Details) - lawsuit	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Sensipar (cinacalcet) Patent Litigation [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed	4	4		14
Amgen Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. et al [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits consolidated		1	14
Amgen Inc. v. Alkem et al [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits consolidated		3

Contingencies and commitments_3

Contingencies and commitments (KYPROLIS ANDA Patent Litigation) (Details) - KYPROLIS (carfilzomib) Patent Litigation [Member] - lawsuit	Sep. 14, 2017	Nov. 08, 2016	Nov. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed	3			10
Onyx Therapeutics, Inc [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed		4	4

Contingencies and commitments_4

Contingencies and commitments (Sandoz ENBREL Patent Litigation) (Details) - ENBREL (etanercept) [Member]	Feb. 26, 2016patentaffiliate
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain contingency, number of affiliates | affiliate	2
Number of patents allegedly infringed | patent	5

Contingencies and commitments_5

Contingencies and commitments (NEUPOGEN Patent Litigation) (Details) - patent	Oct. 03, 2018	Mar. 08, 2018	Dec. 13, 2017
Adello NEUPOGEN Patent Litigation [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patents allegedly infringed	4	17
Apotex NEUPOGEN/Neulasta Patent Litigation [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patents allegedly infringed			1

Contingencies and commitments_6

Contingencies and commitments (PCSK9 Antibody Patent Litigation) (Details) - patent	Nov. 30, 2018	Mar. 18, 2016	Dec. 15, 2014
Sanofi/Regeneron Patent Litigation [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of patents allegedly infringed			7
Length of trial		5 days
Patent Disputes in the International Region [Member]
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Length of trial	3 days

Contingencies and commitments_7

Contingencies and commitments (Hospira EPOGEN Patent Litigation) (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 22, 2017USD ($)	Jan. 23, 2017patent
Hospira EPOGEN Patent Litigation [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Aount awarded from other party | $	$ 70
Epoetin Alfa Litigation [Member]
Gain Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patents allegedly infringed | patent		2
Length of trial	5 days

Contingencies and commitments_8

Contingencies and commitments (MVASI Patent Litigation) (Details) - Mvasi Patent Litigation, Genentech, Inc. (Genentech) and the City of Hope [Member] - patent	Aug. 31, 2018	Oct. 18, 2017	Oct. 06, 2017
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Number of patents allegedly infringed			27
Loss contingency, patents allegedly infringed	8	25	24

Contingencies and commitments_9

Contingencies and commitments (KANJINTI Patent Litigation) (Details) - KANJINTI Patent Litigation [Member] - patent	Jan. 17, 2019	Nov. 07, 2018	Jul. 19, 2018	Jun. 21, 2018
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, patents allegedly infringed		10	18	37
Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, patents allegedly infringed	1

Contingencies and commitment_10

Contingencies and commitments (AMJEVITA Patent Litigation) (Details)	Jan. 24, 2019patent
Subsequent Event [Member] | AMJEVITA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, patents allegedly infringed	3

Contingencies and commitment_11

Contingencies and commitments (Future Minimum Rental Commitments) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2,019	$ 164
2,020	126
2,021	113
2,022	64
2,023	56
Thereafter	46
Total minimum operating lease commitments	$ 569

Contingencies and commitment_12

Contingencies and commitments (Lease Commitments, Textual) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Future rental commitments for abandoned leases	$ 222
Future rental income relating to noncancelable subleases of abandoned facilities	203
Rental expense on operating leases	$ 166	$ 159	$ 134

Contingencies and commitment_13

Contingencies and commitments (U.S. Repatriation Tax Commitments) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)installment
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. repatriation tax commitments, number of annual installments | installment	8
U.S. repatriation tax commitments, 2019	$ 586
U.S. repatriation tax commitments, 2020	586
U.S. repatriation tax commitments, 2021	586
U.S. repatriation tax commitments, 2022	586
U.S. repatriation tax commitments, 2023	1,099
U.S. repatriation tax commitments, Thereafter	3,296
Total remaining U.S. repatriation tax commitments	$ 6,739

Major customers (Textual) (Deta

Major customers (Textual) (Details) - customer	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Number of major customers (as defined) accounting for more than 10% of total revenue	3	3	3
Threshold as a percentage of total revenues for determining a major customer for additional disclosures	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Percentage of worldwide gross revenues derived from major customers (as defined) on a combined basis	84.00%
Percentage of United States gross product sales derived from major customers (as defined) on a combined basis	98.00%
Major customers (as defined) accounting for more than 10% of gross trade receivables	3	3
Combined trade receivables for all major customers (as defined) as a percentage of net trade receivables	76.00%	75.00%
Percentage of net trade receivables due from customers located outside the United States, primarily in Europe	23.00%	25.00%
AmerisourceBergen Corporation [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Amount due from major customer (as defined) as a percentage of gross trade receivables	exceeded 10%	exceeded 10%
McKesson Corporation [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Amount due from major customer (as defined) as a percentage of gross trade receivables	exceeded 10%	exceeded 10%
Cardinal Health, Inc. [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Amount due from major customer (as defined) as a percentage of gross trade receivables	exceeded 10%	exceeded 10%

Major customers (Customer Conce

Major customers (Customer Concentration, Product Sales) (Details) - Product sales [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 6,001	$ 5,510	$ 5,679	$ 5,343	$ 5,569	$ 5,453	$ 5,574	$ 5,199	$ 22,533	$ 21,795	$ 21,892
AmerisourceBergen Corporation [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Product sales									$ 12,091	$ 10,742	$ 10,100
Gross product sales to major customer (as defined) as a percentage of total gross revenues									33.00%	31.00%	31.00%
Gross product sales to major customer (as defined) as a percentage of U.S. gross product sales									39.00%	37.00%	38.00%
McKesson Corporation [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Product sales									$ 11,434	$ 10,625	$ 9,710
Gross product sales to major customer (as defined) as a percentage of total gross revenues									31.00%	30.00%	30.00%
Gross product sales to major customer (as defined) as a percentage of U.S. gross product sales									35.00%	35.00%	34.00%
Cardinal Health, Inc. [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Product sales									$ 7,475	$ 7,049	$ 6,520
Gross product sales to major customer (as defined) as a percentage of total gross revenues									20.00%	20.00%	20.00%
Gross product sales to major customer (as defined) as a percentage of U.S. gross product sales									24.00%	24.00%	24.00%

Quarterly financial data (una_3

Quarterly financial data (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Gross profit from product sales	$ 4,905	$ 4,473	$ 4,655	$ 4,399	$ 4,510	$ 4,463	$ 4,550	$ 4,203
Net income	$ 1,928	$ 1,859	$ 2,296	$ 2,311	$ (4,264)	$ 2,021	$ 2,151	$ 2,071	$ 8,394	$ 1,979	$ 7,722
Earnings per share:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 3.04	$ 2.88	$ 3.50	$ 3.27	$ (5.89)	$ 2.78	$ 2.93	$ 2.81	$ 12.70	$ 2.71	$ 10.32
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 3.01	$ 2.86	$ 3.48	$ 3.25	$ (5.89)	$ 2.76	$ 2.91	$ 2.79	$ 12.62	$ 2.69	$ 10.24
Product [Member]
Effect of Fourth Quarter Events [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 6,001	$ 5,510	$ 5,679	$ 5,343	$ 5,569	$ 5,453	$ 5,574	$ 5,199	$ 22,533	$ 21,795	$ 21,892

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND Q_2

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for doubtful accounts [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 51	$ 51	$ 55
Additions charged to costs and expenses	1	4	11
Other additions	0	0	0
Deductions	4	4	15
Balance at end of period	$ 48	$ 51	$ 51

Uncategorized Items - amgn-2018

Label	Element	Value
Retained Earnings [Member]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 38,000,000