AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb Are Discussing a $400 Billion Merger — Bloomberg
British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and U.S.-based Bristol Myers Squibb are in talks regarding a potential merger of their businesses. If the deal is finalized, it could become the largest merger in the history of the pharmaceutical industry. Bloomberg reports this, citing sources familiar with the situation.
According to the sources, a final decision on the deal has not yet been made, and the talks could end without an agreement. The parties have not yet disclosed the possible structure of the future merger.
Earlier, the Financial Times estimated the potential value of such a deal at approximately $400 billion. If it goes through, the new company would become one of the largest pharmaceutical players in the world.
AstraZeneca is one of the largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its market capitalization is about $264 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb is valued at approximately $133 billion and could strengthen AstraZeneca’s position in the U.S. pharmaceutical market.
AstraZeneca declined to comment on reports of the talks, and Bristol Myers Squibb did not immediately respond to journalists’ inquiries.
Source: Bloomberg
As a reminder, AstraZeneca is set to build the world’s largest pharmaceutical plant in the U.S. for $50 billion.
Earlier, the U.S. approved AstraZeneca’s first nasal vaccine against the most common types of influenza A and B, allowing people to administer the vaccine themselves at home.
AstraZeneca announced that it is recalling its COVID-19 vaccine worldwide due to an “abundance of available, improved vaccines” since the start of the pandemic.
