Pfizer plans to apply for marketing approval for heart drug torcetrapib as a single pill, rather than as a combo-drug with Lipitor, according to a company statement. Torcetrapib is being evaluated in clinical trials and is approximately a year and a half from potential approval. Clinical trials show that torcetrapib substantially raises the levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the "good" cholesterol, providing a novel approach to preventing heart attacks and strokes. Analysts predict that it could reach sales of several billion dollars annually.

Previously, Pfizer planned to sell torcetrapib only in combination with Lipitor, one of several medicines called statins that lower levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, according to the company. However, by offering torcetrapib only in a combination pill, the company would have forced patients taking other statins—such as Merck's Zocor—to switch to Lipitor to gain the benefits of torcetrapib.

Controversy around the combination plan consisted of cardiologists stating that not all patients can easily switch from one statin to another, and some cannot take statins at all. In addition, there were commercial and legal challenges relating to whether offering torcetrapib only with Lipitor might violate antitrust laws. Pfizer previously contended that, since the drug would almost always be prescribed in conjunction with a statin, it would be too costly to test each major statin with torcetrapib.

According to Dr. Joseph Feczko, Pfizer's chief medical officer, "Pfizer expects to offer torcetrapib as a stand-alone drug as well as in combination with Lipitor. The change comes in part because of the criticism Pfizer has faced. We didn't appreciate how this would be perceived." As a result, patients will be able to take torcetrapib alongside whatever statin they now use, or even as a stand-alone pill, although most doctors will likely prescribe it with a statin.

Hollister-Stier Laboratories has purchased seven acres of land adjacent to its Spokane, WA facility. The purchase of the 294,535-sq.-ft. lot provides the company with the additional space needed for the $30 million expansion that begins this fall, as well as room for future expansion. The company will install a new high-speed filling line to more than double its current capacity. The new filling line and cleanroom complex will be constructed on a portion of the land closest to the current facility. This new line can handle 2 mL - 100 mL vials and fill approximately 400 vials per minute.

"We recognize what our customers' value," stated Anthony Bonanzino, Ph.D., president and chief executive. "HollisterStier's commitment to providing our customers with a high quality manufacturing facility in addition to superior service is our first priority. We are pleased with the recent land purchase as it reflects our ongoing investment in the future of our customers, employees, services and our community."

Avalon Pharmaceuticals and ChemDiv, Inc. have entered into a collaboration for the discovery and development of small molecule oncology therapeutics. Avalon will use its AvalonRx platform to discover new active compounds in screens against selected targets and target pathways. ChemDiv will provide Avalon access to its Discovery outSource services platform, including the largest commercially available chemical library, as well as medicinal and synthetic chemistry for the discovery and development of new active compounds.

The two companies will share development costs and the value of any lead candidate resulting from their research efforts. Additional terms of the agreement provide Avalon with the right to select 200,000 compounds from the ChemDiv library for use in all of Avalon's discovery programs.

"This is a classic win-win situation for both companies," stated Kenneth C. Carter, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Avalon Pharmaceuticals. "We are pleased to partner with ChemDiv, where we are both able to leverage expertise in the ongoing effort to discover new cancer therapeutics through the combination of our AvalonRx drug discovery platform and ChemDiv's compound library, chemistry resources and expertise."

"We are excited about this partnership with Avalon," said Nikolay Savchuk, president and chief executive officer of ChemDiv, Inc. "This collaboration is based on the synergy of ChemDiv's discovery assets and research resources along with Avalon's unique drug discovery engine. We believe that this combination of both Avalon's and ChemDiv's technologies will result in a reduction of the time and effort required to identify and develop new breakthrough therapeutics."

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