Pfizer may come back to bid for British drug company AstraZeneca after its reported £60bn (€73bn) takeover approach was rejected, since a deal could make sense for the US pharmaceuticals giant as it seeks to build up its cancer franchise.

A STARTLING admission by the blood bank that it sold blood and blood products to pharmaceutical firms without the express permission of donors was described as “disturbing” by Health Minister Mary Harney last night.

Neans McSweeney