Astra Zeneca, with its Swedish headquarters in Södertälje and around 7200 employees in Sweden, according to sources to the news site contacted Gilead Sciences in May with the proposal. However, it should have received a lukewarm reception as Gilead is not currently reported to be interested in a larger merger. However, the company should not have given any definitive message.
If such a deal were to become a reality, it would be the largest merger in the pharmaceutical industry ever - with a total value of about SEK 2,200 billion.
AstraZeneca stopped a number of years ago an attempt by the US Pfizer to take over the company. AstraZeneca Sweden today tells SVT that they do not want to comment on what they call rumors and speculation.
Bloomberg news has sought Gilead Sciences, which has not been reached for comment.