6.In a bid that ultimately failed due to US competition authorities' intervention, Australia's biotherapeutics giant, CSL, attempted to acquire US-based plasma competitor Talecris for $3.1 billion in August 2008, to take advantage of synergies and improve its profitability in the US plasma market.

7.France-based Sanofi acquired the Australian consumer health business of Symbion in September 2008, gaining a substantial share of the vitamin supplements' markets in Australia and New Zealand.

8.Japan's Dainippon Sumitomo acquired US-based Sepracor for $2.6 billion in September 2009, gaining a presence in the US market.

9.Japan's Taisho Pharmaceuticals acquired Bristol-Myers Squibb's Indonesian operations and Asian over-the-counter business for $310 million in October 2009, expanding its reach in emerging Asian markets.

10.Swiss-based Novartis acquired Chinese pharmaceuticals and vaccines company Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical for $125 millioin November 2009, in a move to increase its China operations.