Nycomed shoots down Pharmacia rumors

Contrast agent developer Hafslund Nycomed issued a strong denialof rumors circulating last month that Swedish firm Pharmacia wouldmake a bid to buy the Oslo, Norway, company. The rumors originatedin the Oslo stock market, according to Reuters.

Nycomed and Pharmacia have had no contacts regarding such a buyout,said Eric Cameron, senior vice president of corporate communicationsfor Nycomed.

"The rumor on negotiations or contacts or a declared willor wish from Pharmacia to buy shares or form an alliance withHafslund Nycomed is rumor and contains no reality," Camerontold SCAN. "There has been no contact between the parties."

Cameron said Nycomed did not know the source of the rumor,but said it may have been fueled in part by Nycomed's stated desireto form alliances with other companies in various fields.

"If we can identify possible partners, possible ways ofconducting our business better, we are open for such discussion,"Cameron said. "It doesn't necessarily mean we are sellingourselves. This might have misled people."