Pfizer's desire to buy AstraZeneca is the biggest deal that's getting the most attention in the pharma space, but they aren't the only large drugmakers hooking up.
Last week, Novartis (NVS 0.24%)and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK 0.21%) traded products, sending Novartis' vaccines to GlaxoSmithKline and Glaxo's cancer drugs to Novartis. And the duo formed a joint venture to sell the companies' over-the-counter products. Not to be left out, Eli Lilly (LLY -0.76%) picked up Novartis' animal health business.
On the deal-rumor side, Merck (MRK 3.90%) is reportedly looking for a buyer for its consumer health-care unit. Bayer and Reckitt Benckiser appear to be the top contenders for the unit that could go for roughly $13.5 billion.
In the video below, senior biotech specialist Brian Orelli and health care analyst David Williamson discuss the activity in the pharma space as well as why we get so many rumors from "people familiar with the matter" discussing potential deals with the press.
