Pfizer plans to eliminate as many as 800 research positions at its labs around the world as a result of industry pressures that are creating a need to cut spending. Pfizer is facing the 2011 patent expiration of cholesterol drug Lipitor, which accounts for a quarter of Pfizer’s roughly $48 billion annual revenue. By year end, the company expects to have cut 5% to 8% of its 10,000 research jobs, according to Dr. Martin Mackay, head of Pfizer’s R&D. The research cuts impact the ...