As German drug makers Bayer AG and Merck KGaA agreed to end their battle for rival Schering AG, pharmaceutical investors turn their attention to the next big target: AstraZeneca plc. Rumors have GlaxoSmithKline or Novartis looking at bidding for the London-based pharma maker best known for its little purple pill called Nexium that treats acid reflux. AstraZeneca's stock hit a 52-week high, thanks to the speculation that gained credence when Reuters, and London's The Guardian, picked up the news. Of course, New York-based New Ratings downplayed the news as unfounded. —Matthew Wurtzel
See story from The Guardian
See story from Reuters
See story from New Ratings
See related story about Schering from The Deal
Continue reading below
MAXIDEX WARNING
I had ey surgery and in the post-op pack was MAXIDEX(dexamethasone) drops by ALCON LABS.
Two days later I was BLIND
Use Google and enter EPOCRATES MAXIDEX to verify