Is This Really Big Pharma's Next Acquisition?

When shares of Optimer jumped up in February on the news that it was seeking "strategic alternatives" -- in other words, looking for a buyer -- Motley Fool health-care analyst David Williamson warned that the company's defining drug, Dificid, has had slow sales, and finding a buyer might not be easy. However, in this video, David tells investors about an article in Bloomberg, reporting that both GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca may be interested, which has shares of Optimer up 20%. David explores what Optimer has to offer that may or may not make this buyout worth the buyer's while.

While you can certainly make huge gains in biotech and pharmaceuticals, the best investing approach is to choose great companies and stick with them for the long term. The Motley Fool's free report "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich" names stocks that could help you build long-term wealth and retire well, along with some winning wealth-building strategies that every investor should be aware of. Click here now to keep reading.

The article Is This Really Big Pharma's Next Acquisition? originally appeared on Fool.com.

David Williamson and Max Macaluso, Ph.D., have no position in any stocks mentioned. Follow David on Twitter: @MotleyDavid. The Motley Fool recommends Cubist Pharmaceuticals. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.