Analysts want Abbott’s new spin-off firm AbbVie to merge with the troubled AstraZeneca, saying it could give both firms future value. AbbVie will be the new R&D firm coming from Abbott’s split into two new companies, and is scheduled to go ahead within the next year. The firm will rely on its Humira brand in the short-term - which will become the world’s biggest selling drug this year - but could need more to beef-up its future prospects when the auto-inflammatory treatment goes off patent.
