The threat of slowing demand and new competition in GlaxoSmithKline’s flagship HIV drug business has unnerved investors in the UK’s biggest drugmaker, sending its shares down 1.8%.

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.

THE rate of heart attacks in Ireland has halved since the mid-1980s, it emerged yesterday.

Shares in AstraZeneca tumbled 6% today after a key drug it has developed in the fight against strokes was provisionally rejected by US regulators.