Reyataz, an AIDS drug also known as atazanavir, is facing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee today.

FORBES: Unleashing Pharma's Dogs

They include Abilify for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Reyataz for HIV, Orencia for rheumatoid arthritis and Sprycel for chronic myelogenous leukemia.

FORBES: Why Bristol And Sanofi Shouldn't Merge

Reyataz's selling point is that it appears to work without some of the side effects of other HIV medicines in its class.

FORBES: Unleashing Pharma's Dogs

Aside from Reyataz, Bristol is relying heavily on Abilify, the antipsychotic medicine it sells through an agreement with Japan's Otsuka Pharmaceuticals .

FORBES: Unleashing Pharma's Dogs

Reyataz is vital to Bristol, which needs new drugs to make up for sales that will be lost to generic competition in the next two years.

FORBES: Unleashing Pharma's Dogs

Reyataz can cause an elevation of a liver enzyme and a prolongation of certain heart rhythms, both of which can worry the FDA. In this case, documents posted on the FDA Web site seem to indicate that these factors won't be enough to justify keeping the drug off the market.

FORBES: Unleashing Pharma's Dogs