The results cap off a critical year for Pfizer, which has been slashing costs as it recovers from the rapid decline of its Covid business and stock price.

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by cost-cutting efforts and better-than-expected sales of its COVID vaccine.

Pfizer's fourth quarter beat expectations on strong sales of its Covid vaccine and pill, bolstering its sales as it seeks to fend off criticism from an activist investor that has argued the company squandered its pandemic gains and needs a new path forward.