Pfizer's Currency, Patent Pressures Boost Allergan Merger's Importance

Pfizer Inc.'s pending $160bn merger with Allergan PLC may be its best shot at significant revenue growth this year, since the company's 2015 revenue and earnings fell below 2014 totals due to foreign currency impacts and the loss of patent exclusivity for multiple products – factors that again could lead to flat growth during the current year, despite meaningful sales gains for certain products.