Questions Linger on Pfizer Drug

A new study of a cholesterol drug recently abandoned by Pfizer(PFE Quote) doesn't answer the question of why the compound failed or whether similar experimental drugs will be successful.

"The lack of efficacy may be related to the mechanism of this drug class or to molecule-specific adverse events," says the Pfizer-sponsored research that was unveiled at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology.

The drug is torcetrapib, which Pfizer had hoped would be the successor to Lipitor, the world's best-selling drug and a contributor of $12.9 billion, or 27%, of last year's corporate revenue. ...