PFIZER

Stocks mostly fell on Wednesday, retreating from a two-day rally, as Pfizer's disappointing outlook and the president's commitment to bank and healthcare reform weighed on the financial and health sectors.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday after President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to overhaul the healthcare system and impose stricter regulatory reforms on Wall Street.

Stocks declined on Wednesday after disappointing results from Pfizer and transport companies, while slower-than-expected expansion in the services sector also weighed on the market.

Stocks fell on Wednesday as disappointing quarterly results from Pfizer Inc and others in the sector prompted investors to book profits in healthcare shares.

Top global drugmakers Pfizer Inc and Roche Holding AG , posted uninspiring results and gave lackluster forecasts on Thursday, sending shares in both companies down more than 2 percent.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open for Wall Street on Wednesday, as disappointing earnings results, including Pfizer, offset a report showing fewer-than-expected private sector job losses in January.

Pfizer Inc posted fourth-quarter earnings slightly below analysts' expectations and gave a disappointing forecast for 2010 and 2012, sending its shares down nearly 3 percent.

Pfizer Inc on Wednesday posted fourth-quarter earnings slightly below analyst expectations and gave a full-year profit forecast below Wall Street forecasts, sending its shares almost 2 percent lower.

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.

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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.