According to reports by Reuters and CNBC TV18, the majors are willing to pay in excess of $1.5bn for the Mumbai-headquarter non-branded drugmaker with Sanofi emerging as the most likely to complete a takeover.
The rumours echo those that emerged in March last year when Sanofi was first highlighted as a likely suitor for Piramal.
And, while none of the parties involved has confirmed the latest speculation, a takeover would certainly fit with Big Pharma’s increasing focus on the generics market.
Pfizer’s inclusion in the current rumours is also an interesting development given the cutbacks the US drug major has announced this week.