Pfizer Inc. (PFE): Speculation Sickens Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), Pharma Tries to Cure It

Elsewhere, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is evaluating its continued partnership on an experimental oxycodone capsule, Remoxy. The drug is an extended-release formula that is targeted at reducing abuse of the painkiller. After years of setbacks and postponements for FDA approval, Pfizer is weighing its options. Its partners for the drug, Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTIE) and Durect, have both fallen heavily due to the news, with Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTIE) falling more than 50% — its largest decline ever.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is also up this morning, by a lesser 0.13%. The company is benefiting from its recent announcement that it and partner GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR) (NYSE:GSK) will be reducing prices for their HPV vaccines in an effort to make them available to girls in the world’s poorest regions. Providing a 95% discount from the U.S. rate, the doses of the vaccine will cost $4.50 under the new policy. HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women, and to date there has been little done to try to provide the inoculations to the poorest countries, where 80% of the deaths from cervical cancer occur.

The article Speculation Sickens the Dow, Pharma Tries to Cure It originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Jessica Alling.

Fool contributor Jessica Alling has no position in any stocks mentioned — you can contact her here. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

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