Company in the news: AstraZeneca

The stock market can be a funny place. Less than a year ago shares in AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN)were changing hands for just over £30 per share.

The company was seen as one of the weakest players in the global pharmaceutical industry, facing years of declining sales and profits as some of its blockbuster drugs came off patent and became exposed to competition from cheap generic ones.Yet value is often in the eye of the beholder.

US drug giant Pfizer has had two bids (the latest being tabled at £50 per share) for AstraZeneca rejected, because the management said that it undervalued the firm.

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AstraZeneca has been talking up the value of its drugs pipeline in development. It reckons that new drugs to treat cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's, among others, could see its sales grow by 75% by 2023.

Given that these drugs have not yet seen the light of day in terms of regulatory approval, let alone sales and profits, this sounds like a valiant attempt to get Pfizer to pay up. But will it?

Maybe. Pfizer has a reputation for growing by buying other companies, rather than by making its own drugs.On top of that it strips out costs and boosts profits. It would seem that the time for Pfizer to do this again has arrived, hence its interest in AstraZeneca.

Pfizer's own sales are falling, because its big earning drugs, such as Lipitor and Viagra, are attracting fierce competition. It seems that Pfizer can chop a lot of costs out ofAstraZeneca but that there is also abigger prize of moving its headquartersto the UK and paying lower taxes than itdoes in America.

The UK government is under pressure tostop Pfizer sacking lots of highly trainedscientists and damaging the country'sscience base. The American governmentwill be keen to stop a big taxpayer likePfizer moving to Britain.

Pfizer has until 26 May to get its bidaccepted. If it does not, it will have toincrease it or pursue a hostile takeover. Should the deal fail, thenyou have to ask whether AstraZeneca'sshares are worth their current £46. That would put it on 18.5 times forecastearnings, compared with 15.3 timesfor the more highly regarded GlaxoSmithKline.

A year ago AstraZenecashares were probably too cheap, butbuying them now looks more risky.Existing shareholders should sit tight,but don't buy if you haven't already.

Verdict: hold