New Delhi, Aug. 20 -- Aurobindo Pharma shares declined nearly 5 percent to Rs.1,039 apiece on August 20 after reports suggested that the company had emerged as the frontrunner to acquire Prague-based generic drugmaker Zentiva from Advent International. The potential deal, valued at $5-5.5 billion ( Rs.43,500-47,900 crore), would mark the largest-ever acquisition by an Indian pharmaceutical company, both within India and overseas.

If concluded, the transaction would surpass previous landmark pharma deals, including Daiichi Sankyo's $3.2 billion acquisition of Ranbaxy in 2014 and Biocon Biologics' $3.3 billion cash-and-stock purchase of the global biosimilars business of US-based Viatris. Reports highlighted that the Zentiva buyout could s...