Nation IN BRIEF : NATIONWIDE : Pfizer to Offer 11 Drugs Free to Poor

Drug company Pfizer Inc. said it would offer 11 medicines free to poor patients who have no health insurance. Pfizer said its “Sharing the Care” program would bring free care to up to 1 million Americans. It said the program would cost the company up to $12 million the first year. The program will operate in all 50 states at about half the nation’s community, migrant and homeless health centers. The company hopes to offer the program at all the nation’s 700 community health centers. The program includes all 11 of Pfizer’s “single source” drugs, which have no generic substitutes, including treatments for angina and hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis and AIDS-related fungal infections.