Pfizer provides pipeline update

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) provided a pipeline update on Wednesday for the first time since the close of the Wyeth acquisition, announcing a prioritized portfolio of about 500 projects in discovery through registration, down from 600 projects when the companies first combined. Of those projects, 70% are in Pfizer's six primary areas: cancer, pain, inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, psychoses and diabetes. The Wyeth acquisition also bolstered Pfizer's vaccines and biologics pipeline, increasing the number of vaccines and biologics in development to six vaccines and 27 biologics, up from one vaccine and 16 biologics since last March.

Pfizer discontinued 13 programs since last year's update, including Sutent sunitinib for colorectal cancer, which was in Phase III testing. Sutent is approved in the EU and U.S. to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and Gleevec-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Gleevec imatinib is marketed by Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN). ...