US drugs company Pfizer has contacted AstraZeneca over a possible multi-billion euro takeover.<br /><br />Pfizer said it had approached AstraZeneca in January with a 71 billion euro bid and after limited talks AstraZeneca pulled out of negotiations.<br /><br />Pfizer said market conditions have prompted a second bid.<br /><br />AstraZeneca said it had considered talks with Pfizer, but will continue with its independent strategy. <br /><br />The British company currently employs 6,700 people, but has laid off thousands as it deals with a drop in sales and lucrative patent losses. <br /><br />AstraZeneca currently acccounts for 2.3 percent of all British exports.
