Britain's GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is one of several groups exploring a potential takeover of Ache Laboratorios Farmaceuticos, one of Brazil's biggest drugmakers, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The privately owned business is attractive to a number of drug companies looking to increase their footprint in Latin America and could fetch $3 billion to $4 billion, or even more if competition is keen, they added, according to Reuters.

"It's something Glaxo has looked at in the past and they've been knocking on the door," Reuters quoted one source as saying.

Other drugmakers likely to be interested include Novartis AG (NVS, NOVN.VX), Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Abbott Laboratories (ABT), other sources said, according to Reuters.

Website: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/12/bra...RR20130212

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