1. Scrip
  2. >>Business
  3. >>Deals

AstraZeneca Gilead Merger Intriguing But Unlikely

Bloomberg Rumor Causes A Stir

 
• By Kevin Grogan

The possible creation of a pharma giant worth around $230bn of two firms who are leading the industry’s efforts to combat COVID-19 has caught the imagination but the likelihood of a match is limited.

Proposal_Rings
Observers hoping for a mega-merger may have to wait a while longer • Source: Shutterstock

Observers of the pharmaceutical industry got a surprise wake-up call on Sunday (7 June) with a report that AstraZeneca PLC had approached Gilead Sciences Inc. about a potential merger and spent the rest of the day weighing up the pros and cons of a deal that could create a healthcare giant worth over $230bn.

Bloomberg reported that AstraZeneca had made a preliminary approach to Gilead about a potential merger last month citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Deals

Dr Reddy’s Gears For Tariffs Scenario, To Ensure No US Supply Disruption

 
• By Anju Ghangurde

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories preps for potential US tariffs, focusing on sustaining product supply and collaborating with customers on inventories. A recent US plant sale, the firm stressed, was unrelated to tariffs and underlines its openness to ‘make in the US’, where it launched 18 products in fiscal 2025.

Pharma Left Hanging After US/UK Trade Pact

 
• By Kevin Grogan

An ‘historic economic prosperity deal’ does not include the sector.

Sanofi R&D Head’s Words Of Wisdom For Biotechs

 
• By Kevin Grogan

Houman Ashrafian tells delegates at Swiss Biotech Day that ‘literally only two things matter in our industry – target credentialing and differentiated pharmacology. The rest is execution.’

Shionogi In $1bn Deal For Japan Tobacco’s Pharma Ops

 
• By Ian Haydock

Mid-sized Japanese pharma firm to acquire tobacco giant’s pharma operations and take private the listed Torii Pharmaceutical business, in bid to build sales reach and strengthen manufacturing.

More from Business

Which Firms Are Most Exposed To Prasad’s Possible Accelerated Approvals Clampdown?

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

Vaccine and accelerated approvals are expected to face greater scrutiny under new CBER leader Vinay Prasad, but he has promised “no light switch change” to policy, giving some reassurance to companies whose share prices have been battered.

Building Up US Biopharma Manufacturing Will Require Investments In Talent

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Workforce development will be essential to meeting president Trump’s goal to return biopharma manufacturing to the US.

Finance Watch: Deerfield Closes $600m-Plus VC Fund; Gates Speeds Up Health Investments

 
• By Mandy Jackson

Private Company Edition: Deerfield’s third innovations fund will back therapeutics and other opportunities, the Gates Foundation – a sometimes funder of biotech firms – will spend $200bn over the next 20 years, and NewLimit raised a $130m series B round, among other financings.