Pfizer disputes rate of price rise

PFIZER AND Merrill Lynch traded words after the brokerage reported that Pfizer raised average wholesale prices on major products in the US by 5.5% for 2006-up from last year's average price increase of 4.8%. Merrill Lynch analysts said they had expected a 4% rise in prices in light of the launch of

Pfizer disputes the report's findings, saying that its AWP increase is a mere 4.6%. It cited the effect of rebates and mandated discounts and noted that prices for its HIV and oncology products remained static.

-Stephen McGuire