AstraZeneca is reportedly in talks with Bristol Myers Squibb to merge the pharmaceutical giants. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)AstraZeneca is reportedly in talks with Bristol Myers Squibb to merge the pharmaceutical giants. A person familiar with the matter told Reuters that AstraZeneca and Bristol had held talks, confirming an earlier Financial Times report. Jefferies analysts said in a note they were puzzled by the reports of talks given AstraZeneca had a strong "growth and innovation profile". "If there is one company that doesn't need financial engineering, it's AstraZeneca," they wrote.