This live event is due to start at 0930 BST
US drugs giant Pfizer has insisted that its commitments to UK jobs and research made as part of a £63 billion takeover offer for AstraZeneca are legally binding as its chief executive prepares to face a grilling by MPs.
In a written statement ahead of Ian Read's appearance before the Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee tomorrow, Pfizer said the planned merger would create a "UK-based scientific powerhouse".
Critics claim the pledges made by Mr Read in a letter to the Prime Minister are worthless and are calling on ministers to block any deal.
The board of UK-based Astra has also proved resistant so far to the advances of Viagra maker Pfizer, rejecting its latest offer as "inadequate".
Any deal would be the largest ever foreign takeover of a British company and revives bitter memories of when US food giant Kraft abandoned jobs pledges after its takeover of Cadbury in 2010.

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