The two largest diversified healthcare companies struck deals yesterday that will propel them into vaccines, a key area for investors because of the pandemic flu threat.

Abbott Laboratories agreed to buy the drugs unit of Belgium’s Solvay in a $6.6 billion (€4.5 billion) cash deal.

Johnson Johnson bought an 18 per cent stake in Dutch biotech firm Crucell for $444 million as part of a flu vaccine deal, Crucell said. – (Reuters)