PFIZER

Bill and Melinda Gates said on Friday they would spend $10 billion over the next decade to develop and deliver vaccines, an increased commitment that reflects progress in the pipeline of products for immunising children in the developing world.

Pharmaceuticals are mixed in mid-day trading as two major firms reported earnings in pre-market hours.

Events in health insurance, basic materials and utilities sparked a rally in the stock market on Tuesday as investors looked past earnings.

The U.S. Justice Department accused giant pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson of paying tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks to Omnicare Inc to buy and recommend J&J drugs.

Most notably, such companies want to cut or delay massive taxes that would raise tens of billions of dollars over the next 10 years to fund the healthcare reforms.

Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday it has struck a collaboration deal with India's Strides Arcolab Ltd that will significantly expand the generics business of the world's largest drugmaker.

Pfizer Inc shares fell 1 percent on Thursday after it said a U.S. decision on whether to approve the company's new version of its big-selling Prevnar vaccine that fights pneumonia and meningitis would push past the deadline.

Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) said on Tuesday it has ended a late-stage lung cancer study of its experimental drug figitumumab after an analysis showed it was unlikely to meet the main goal of improving overall survival.

With holiday consumer sentiment strong the Monday before Christmas, we could be on the verge of an end-of-2009 breakout in penny stocks. What better time then to look at four stocks getting set to move big time in the coming week. Here's a look at this week's Watchlist…

Athersys Inc (ATHX.O) said it sold the rights of its stem-cell therapy to treat inflammatory bowel disease to Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), the world's biggest drugmaker, and shares of Athersys more than tripled in early morning trade.

Sanofi-Aventis is to buy U.S. consumer healthcare group Chattem Inc for around $1.9 billion, in a deal which will give the French drugmaker over-the-counter presence in the huge United States market.

The old-style sales rep may have had his day thanks to shifts in the pharmaceutical market and a cost-cutting drive by drug companies.

Eli Lilly and Co forecast 2010 earnings in line with Wall Street expectations, but suggested earnings could fall after its biggest drugs lose patent protection between 2011 and 2014.

Eli Lilly and Co forecast 2010 earnings in line with Wall Street expectations but gave no hint of how profit might pan out after its biggest drugs lose patent protection between 2011 and 2014.

A Philadelphia jury on Monday ordered Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) to pay $28 million in punitive damages to a breast cancer survivor who had used the company's hormone replacement drugs for 11 years.

Democrats in the U.S. Congress are seeking government investigations into recent price increases of brand-name prescription drugs, as lawmakers finalize an overhaul of the healthcare system.

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said on Wednesday it would conduct a new late-stage trial to evaluate the effect of one of its drug candidates in combating a thickening of the arteries in patients.

Johnson & Johnson plans to cut up to 7 percent of its workforce in order to generate cost savings needed to finance increasingly costly drug research and to weather future challenges, the diversified healthcare company said on Tuesday.

Yahoo's Comeback; Wary on Health Reform; Home Buyer Perks

Pfizer Inc awarded two top executives cash and stock bonuses for their roles in carrying through the recently completed $67.3 billion deal for U.S. rival Wyeth, the company said on Wednesday.

U.S. drug firm Pfizer has approached several Indian drugmakers for possible alliances to bolster its revenues, the Economic Times reported on Friday.