Valeant Said to Be in Talks With Actavis on Merger

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. and Actavis Inc., two makers of generic drugs, have been in talks about a merger, people familiar with the matter said.

The discussions have been going on for some time, though it is unclear if the companies will reach an agreement, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the negotiations are private. The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Valeant is seeking to acquire Actavis for more than $13 billion, citing people familiar with the matter.