ALLIANCES AND COLLABORATIONS (AstraZeneca) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,736	$ 5,345	$ 13,430	$ 15,790
Deferred income	4,695		4,695		1,203
Other (income)/expense	(50)	(26)	(45)	(195)
Cost of products sold	987	1,407	3,535	4,231
ONGLYZA KOMBIGLYZE [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net sales	178	127	511	320
AstraZeneca [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Research and development reimbursements to/(from) collaboration partner	(17)	4	(7)	33
AstraZeneca [Member] | Amylin Acquisition [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life - property, plant and equipment			15 years
Weighted average useful life - acquired intangible assets			12 years
AstraZeneca [Member] | ONGLYZA KOMBIGLYZE [Member] | Upfront, milestone and other licensing payments [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Total upfront, milestone and other licensing payments	300		300
Deferred income	213		213		230
AstraZeneca [Member] | dapagliflozin [Member] | Upfront, milestone and other licensing payments [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Total upfront, milestone and other licensing payments	170		170
Upfront, milestone and other licensing payments received				120
Deferred income	129		129		142
AstraZeneca [Member] | Amylin Related Products [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Payment made by a collaboration partner to enter into a collaboration agreement			3,800
Payment to be made by collaboration partner as part of tax sharing agreement	207
AstraZeneca [Member] | Amylin Related Products [Member] | Upfront, milestone and other licensing payments [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Upfront, milestone and other licensing payments received	3,570		3,570
Deferred income	3,520		3,520
Portion of preliminary proceeds included in accrued expenses related to collaboration proceeds adjustments	190		190
AstraZeneca [Member] | Amylin Related Products [Member] | Amortization Income Expense [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Cost of products sold	(50)		(50)
AstraZeneca [Member] | Amylin Related Products [Member] | Amylin Acquisition [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Payment to be made by a collaboration partner to establish equal governance rights in the collaboration			135
AstraZeneca [Member] | ONGLYZA, KOMBIGLYZE and dapagliflozin [Member] | Amortization Income Expense [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Other (income)/expense	(9)	(10)	(30)	(28)
AstraZeneca [Member] | Onglyza Kombiglyze And Amylin Related Products [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net sales	266	127	599	320
Profit sharing expense	118	58	268	148
Commercialization expense reimbursements to/(from) alliance partner	$ (43)	$ (11)	$ (62)	$ (30)