"Motley Fool analyst Max Macaluso suggested nearly a year ago that Pfizer should seriously consider partnering with MannKind . Max saw some synergies in the two companies' working together on commercializing MannKind's inhalable insulin product, Afrezza. MannKind has stated that it is in discussions with potential partners.

Partnering is a different proposition than buying a smaller company. However, many of the same reasons given for a partnership could also apply to an outright acquisition. Even with MannKind's big stock run-up this year, Pfizer could easily foot the bill if it chose to buy the up-and-coming biotech.

Regardless of which company investors think Pfizer should buy, such a move seems unlikely unless CEO Ian Read has a change of mind. Read's philosophy so far has been that the company's money is better spent on buybacks than acquisitions or dividend increases.

While buying other companies hasn't been a priority, partnering certainly has -- and not just with small biotechs. Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb collaborated on blood-thinning drug Eliquis. The two companies received FDA approval for the drug in late 2012 and previously received regulatory clearance in Europe and Japan.

Pfizer announced a major partnership with Merck earlier this year. The two big pharma organizations joined forces on development and marketing of diabetes drug ertugliflozin. They will also collaborate on using the experimental drug with Merck's Januvia."

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/06/29/who-really-really-wants-some-more-pfizer-stock/