Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Jumps on Reported Merger Talks With AstraZeneca

Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Jumps on Reported Merger Talks With AstraZeneca

Mon, August 3, 2026 at 4:27 PM GMT+3 1 min read

• AZN -1.49%
• BMY +0.64%

Key Takeaways

• Bristol Myers Squibb shares rose Monday following reports of merger talks with AstraZeneca.

• Such a deal could create a drugmaker valued at nearly $400 billion.

Bristol Myers Squibb stock is surging Monday following a report of a potential mega-merger with a competitor.

Shares of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) were up over 4% in premarket trading to their highest point since early 2023 following a report that the company held merger talks with AstraZeneca (AZN), according to The Financial Times. AstraZeneca's U.S.-listed shares slid 6%.

Late Sunday, the FT reported that the two companies have discussed a merger in recent months to create a combined drugmaker that could be valued at nearly $400 billion. The report said, however, that it could be dropped over worries about potential political pushback and the close competitive nature of several of the companies' drugs, including cancer treatments.

AstraZeneca declined to remark on the report, and Bristol Myers Squibb did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Such a deal could give AstraZeneca greater access to the U.S. market. The U.K.-based drugmaker completed a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange back in February after delisting its American Depositary Receipts from the Nasdaq, and last year said it plans to invest $50 billion to expand its manufacturing and research efforts in the U.S. by 2030.

Through Friday's close, AstraZeneca shares were down 3% for 2026, while Bristol Myers Squibb shares have gained more than 20%.

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