Biotech Values

[Biopharm investor]

mbkennel, re: torcetrapib

First, le me preface my reply by saying at the outset I don't have any position in PFE, so I don't follow the company closely enough to give any kind of definitive answer.

That said, I think the commercial potential of torcetrapib/atorvastain is huge, as you said. I may be completely wrong about this, but I thought Pfizer had come under criticism by some for the way they were developing torcetrapib. The drug raises HDL levels, but instead of just developing it for that indication, they're trying to develop it in combination with Lipitor. Basically, I viewed this as their way of managing the continuation of the revenue stream that would otherwise be lost when Litpitor goes off patent in 2011.

If it comes to market in late 2007 or 2008, I'm still not sure how the Company can assure investors they'll witness year-over-year, double-digit top-line growth on a base business with $50 Billion of revenue considering the billions they'll lose in the next couple of years due to patent expirations on other drugs.