Analysts are divided on the likelihood of any such deal going through. Savvas Neophytou, analyst at Panmure Gordon, noted that Astra’s share price would have stood at around £30 when Pfizer first considered the deal. Astra’s shares are now worth £40.
Citi analyst Andrew Baum meanwhile has described a Pfizer takeover of AstraZeneca as “highly probable”, saying it would fit Pfizer’s key strategic goals for immunotherapy and autoimmune disease.
Shire, a perennial takeover target and the UK’s third biggest drug maker, topped the FTSE 100’s risers yesterday, climbing 7.6pc.
The upbeat sentiment also spread to the FTSE 250, where shares in BTG and Hikma climbed 4.2pc and 5pc respectively.
Astra closed up 4.72pc at £39.60.
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