M&A

LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A survey of top executives of U.S. drugmakers indicates mergers and acquisitions should pick up in the next couple of years, as companies aim to offset rising generic competition.

The survey by audit and advisory consultants KPMG LLP found 83 percent of pharmaceutical executives believe their company likely will be a buyer or a seller in a deal in the next two years. Just over half think it will take longer than that before the economy fully recovers.