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Pfizer decides to drop AstraZeneca deal

Pfizer issues 'testy statement' on AstraZeneca
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Pfizer issues 'testy statement' on AstraZeneca
Key Points

U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer issued a statement Monday confirming that it would not be making a further multibillion-dollar offer for AstraZeneca of the U.K..

Last week, AstraZeneca had rejected a revised £69 billion ($116 billion) offer from Pfizer as inadequate and presenting significant risks for its shareholders.

Read MoreAstraZeneca rejects Pfizer's 'final' bid

Under U.K. takeover regulations, Pfizer had until Monday to make a full and final offer for AstraZeneca. It will now have to wait six months before it can make another approach -- or three months if it is invited to do so by the U.K. company

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In the statement, Pfizer chief executive Ian Read said that the company continued to believe "that our final proposal was compelling and represented full value for AstraZeneca".

Read MorePfizer/AstraZeneca: The numbers you need to watch

"As we said from the start, the pursuit of this transaction was a potential enhancement to our existing strategy. We will continue our focus on the execution of our plans, bringing forth new treatments to meet patients' needs and remaining responsible stewards of our shareholders' capital," he added.

In a statement released after Pfizer's announcement, AstraZeneca said it welcomed the climbdown and would "continue building on the momentum we have already demonstrated as an independent company."

AstraZeneca's U.K.-listed shares had come under pressure following the rejection of last week's offer with investors voicing their disappointment that the company had not pursued a deal with Pfizer.

Read More AstraZeneca Chair: Shareholders can 'vote me away'

The AstraZeneca statement also stated that the company had "attractive growth prospects and a rapidly progressing pipeline."

"In the coming months we anticipate positive news flow across our core therapeutic areas, which underpins our confidence in the long-term prospects of the business," the company said.

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