Finance
Abivax spokesperson denies takeover rumors reported by French media
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
Abivax has officially denied rumors reported by French publication La Lettre that it granted AstraZeneca exclusive access until March 23 to formalize a takeover bid, calling them “unfounded rumors”. Media speculation had also earlier focused on potential interest from Eli Lilly. Sources indicate Abi
Abivax denies AstraZeneca takeover rumors reported by French media
Abivax Responds to Takeover Speculation
By Sabrina Valle
Rumors of AstraZeneca Takeover
NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - Biotechnology company Abivax on Thursday dismissed a report by French media publication La Lettre saying it had granted AstraZeneca exclusive access to confidential information until March 23 to allow the British drugmaker to formalize a takeover offer.
Official Denial from Abivax
"We deny the information, these are unfounded rumors," a spokesperson said.
Market Reaction and Previous Takeover Stories
Impact on Abivax Shares
Abivax shares were up as much as 17% earlier on Thursday after the initial report, but pared gains through the day, with the decline accelerating after the spokesperson's denial. The shares were last up 2.8%.
History of Denials
The French biotech has previously denied takeover stories by the French media. In January, Abivax Chief Executive Marc de Garidel dismissed another report by La Lettre that his company was an acquisition target of Eli Lilly.
Investor Interest and Acquisition Talks
Investors looking to profit from Abivax's fluctuating stock price have encouraged acquisition talks over the past months.
Abivax’s Business Focus and Future Outlook
Therapeutic Focus
The French clinical‑stage company focuses on treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases.
Upcoming Data and Acquisition Potential
Abivax is expected to report in late June initial Phase 3 maintenance data for obefazimod in ulcerative colitis. If successful, this would significantly reduce the risk in investing in the company and make it a safer, but likely more expensive, target for acquisition.
(Reporting by Sabrina Valle in New York; additional reporting by Alun John in London and Alessandro Parodi in Gdansk; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
Key Takeaways
- •Abivax refutes French media claims that AstraZeneca was granted exclusive access to confidential data for a takeover: spokesperson calls them “unfounded rumors.”
- •Speculation about a possible acquisition by Eli Lilly also circulated after strong Phase III trial results for obefazimod, but both the French finance ministry and company dismissed these reports.
- •Abivax’s market appeal stems from its ulcerative colitis candidate obefazimod, whose Phase III success has significantly boosted investor interest and price targets.
Frequently Asked Questions about Abivax spokesperson denies takeover rumors reported by French media
1Did Abivax grant AstraZeneca exclusive access to confidential information?
No, Abivax denied granting exclusive access to AstraZeneca for any takeover offer.
2Who reported the Abivax takeover rumors?
The takeover rumors were published by the French media publication 'La Lettre'.
3What did Abivax say about the reported takeover rumors?
An Abivax spokesperson stated the rumors were unfounded and denied the information.
4What date was the alleged deadline for AstraZeneca to formalise a takeover?
The article mentioned March 23 as the alleged deadline according to the French media.
