India's Aurobindo Pharma leads race to buy generic drugmaker Zentiva for $5.5 billion, Economic Times reports (updated)

Zentiva as

20/08/2025 08:10

Adds details, shares in paragraphs 2-4; fair comment in paragraph 5

Aug 20 (Reuters) - India's Aurobindo Pharma ARBN.NS is leading the race to buy Prague-based drugmaker Zentiva 1SKF401E.BV for up to $5.5 billion, the Economic Times reported on Wednesday, in what  could be the largest-ever acquisition by an Indian pharmaceutical firm.

Aurobindo is in talks with Zentiva's owner U.S.-based private equity firm Advent International, the report said, citing people aware of the matter.

However, Aurobindo, in a statement to exchanges, said no binding agreements have been signed by the company's board.

The company's shares slid as much as 4.7% in early trade after the report, before trimming it to 3.7% lower.

Advent International and Zentiva declined to comment on the report.

 (Reporting by Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)

 ((Kashish.Tandon@thomsonreuters.com; 8800437922;))