Winners and losers in this week's cholesterol war

Astra-Zeneca, Crestor +15%
Pfizer, Lipitor +4%
Merck, Vytorin/Zetia -10%
Schering-Plough, Vytorin/Zetia -17%

Monogram Biosciences stock: Panic selling after news of delayed Pfizer HIV drug

Perhaps the initial panic selling of Monogram Biosciences stock this morning shouldn't be surprising. Monogram manufactures a diagnostic test used to identify HIV patients who would respond to Pfizer Inc's maraviroc drug, which didn't get the expected FDA approval on June 20.

FDA took keen interest in maraviroc scandal before delaying approval of HIV drug.

Pfizer claimed publicly that the FDA would approve Pfizer Inc's HIV drug maraviroc on June 20 and launch the drug in July.

And now that launch has been delayed.

Perhaps it isn't surprising that the FDA took a keen interest in the maraviroc whistleblower stories on this blog before making the decision to not approve maraviroc on June 20. And even less surprising if the whole situation gives Pfizer ants in their pants.

Parklawn Computer Center is the label for FDA's IP address, (confirm here).

You can find the most recent maraviroc whistleblower stories here.

Did Pfizer's maraviroc whistleblower delay FDA approval of HIV drug?

The WSJ today penned the headline Pfizer Is Dealt Setback On HIV-Drug Approval.

In the article the WSJ wrote about the new drug maraviroc: "Pfizer Inc.'s pipeline was dealt a surprise blow last night, when the FDA delayed the approval of one of its most interesting drug prospects, a new type of medicine for HIV."

The WSJ also said that "The FDA isn't asking for any more clinical trials."

The FDA apparently couldn't be reached for comment last night.

So did the allegations related to illegal premarketing of maraviroc result in this debacle?

Make up your own mind and read all the maraviroc allegations by Pfizer's internal whistleblower here.