Merck KGaA shortens list of bidders for drug unit

The Economic Times is reporting that Stada Arzneimittel and Barr Pharmaceuticals failed to make the first cut in the closely watched bidding war for Merck KGaA's generic drug business. Ranbaxy, Teva, Actavis and Mylan Laboratories evidently all made the short list of suitors. Analysts expect the drug unit to go for more than $6 billion.

- here's the AFX report for more information

ALSO: Any biotech knockoffs approved by the FDA would only be considered "similar" to approved biologics, says the FDA commissioner, and could not be used interchangeably. Report