The Financial Times first reported the news that UK drugmaker AstraZeneca is in talks to merge with Princeton, New Jersey-based Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). In turn, this would create the world's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company by market capitalization. AstraZeneca recently indicated it could achieve its growth targets without major mergers and acquisitions, making this potential deal with BMS particularly surprising. Right now, that confidence doesn't feel as strong as it should.This is another warning signal for the UK's pharmaceutical industry. Related:Investment crisis: AstraZeneca halts $271m UK expansionA spokesperson for AstraZeneca told BioXconomy “we decline to comment.”