Novartis CEO mum on Bayer buyout

Novartis says it's not interested in merging with another Big Pharma player--but CEO Daniel Vasella (photo) still won't comment on a rumored takeover of German rival Bayer.

Vasella told a French newspaper that a merger isn't the answer to the company's skyrocketing R&D costs and less-than-skyrocketing revenues. But when asked point-blank about Bayer, he clammed up. Some stock analysts have pooh-poohed the notion of Novartis snapping up Bayer. Others, however, helped fuel the rumors, which have died down a bit lately. Vasella's "no comment" just may stir them up again. 

- read the coverage from Forbes

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