Pfizer Says U.S. Is Probing Lipitor Price

Pfizer Inc. said the Justice Department is investigating pricing on its cholesterol drug Lipitor from 1998 through 2001.

New York-based Pfizer said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that the Justice Department is examining whether grants to health plans and pharmacy benefit managers should qualify as rebates.

That would entitle the government to a bigger discount on the drug under best-price rules for Medicaid. The investigation is among several recent federal inquiries and state and consumer lawsuits on drug pricing.

Pfizer fell 88 cents to $36.49 on the NYSE.