Pfizer plans to explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale, of its multibillion dollar animal health and nutrition businesses, the world's largest drugmaker said Thursday.





Options for the businesses also include a full or partial separation through a spin-off, or another transaction, the company said.

Pfizer, which faces the U.S. patent expiration of its top-selling Lipitor cholesterol drug in November, has previously said it was reviewing its various businesses to determine whether they should be divested.