Will a buyer scoop up Salix ($SLXP) and its gastrointestinal portfolio soon? Valeant Pharmaceuticals ($VRX) is reportedly eyeing a bid for the troubled drugmaker, which last year confessed to an inventory snafu that overstated its sales. The cash-rich Shire ($SHPG) is also on the hunt. Sterne Agee analyts figure a buyer with GI drugs of its own--like Shire--could afford a bid at least 20% higher than Salix's standalone value of $145. Report