Pfizer reverses stand on torcetrapib combo

After being subjected to a wave of criticism, Pfizer says that it will market its experimental heart drug torcetrapib as a standalone therapy rather than in combination with Lipitor. The experimental heart drug, which raises the level of good cholesterol, is considered a prime candidate for blockbuster status. Pfizer's strategy had been to require patients who wanted torcetrapib to take the drug in combination with Lipitor, which lowers bad cholesterol. And that would have potentially clawed a large market share away from companies with products that compete with Lipitor, like Zocor. Pfizer says that it is spending $800 million to develop torcetrapib, but analysts say that could well be rewarded by multibillion-dollar annual sales.

- here's the article on Pfizer from The New York Times