BlackRock Is Said to Encourage Pfizer-AstraZeneca Talks

AstraZeneca Plc’s biggest shareholder says the drugmaker and its potential acquirer Pfizer Inc. should continue to talk, a person with knowledge of the matter said. A second investor also pushed for negotiations.

BlackRock Inc., which owns 8 percent of London-based AstraZeneca and 6.8 percent of Pfizer, is encouraging discussions between the two companies, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.