Procter 038; Gamble may exit pharma: Report

The consumer goods group,which sells brands such as Gillette razors and Crest toothpaste,has been working actively to focus more heavily on high-growth businesses and divest non-key assets,the newspaper said.

A.G. Lafley,Pamp;G8217;s chief executive,told analysts in December that the company had stopped investing in new drug development and would consider divesting some of its key pharmaceuticals brands,the paper said.

Pamp;G,which reported its second-quarter results on January 30,lowered its earnings and sales forecast for the fiscal year ending in June,adding to the list of household products makers tempering expectations as they deal with the recession.

Pamp;G expects fiscal 2009 sales to be flat to down 4 per cent.

Pamp;G8217;s pharmaceuticals business sells prescription drugs that focus on women8217;s health and gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal problems,while the broader healthcare arm sells over the counter products such as heartburn treatment Prilosec and Pepto-Bismol,the newspaper said.

Pamp;G and Goldman Sachs could not be immediately reached for comments by Reuters.