Pfizer Déjà Vu: Is It Time To Sell The Consumer Health Business?

As Pfizer re-examines a potential sale of its consumer business, analysts expect it would attract suitors for its unit, with $15bn to $17bn a likely price, but also say it might be better off continuing to compete in the sector that accounted for around $3.4bn of its 2016 revenues.

Drug industry analysts and other observers couldn't be faulted for asking, "Haven't we heard this before?" after Pfizer Inc. on Oct. 10 said it is considering selling is consumer health business.

Even so, the announcement sparked discussion of the pros and cons. On one hand, the consumer unit –which includes the...