Last checked at 
* UK's CMA looking if deal will reduce market competition
* CMA has invited comments on the deal by June 3
* AstraZeneca agreed to buy Alexion in December
(Adds AstraZeneca comment, background)
May 25 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator is
reviewing AstraZeneca's $39 billion buyout of U.S.-based
Alexion on concerns it could reduce competition in the
UK market or elsewhere.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on
Tuesday it was inviting comments from any interested party on
the deal to help its assessment, setting a deadline of June 3
for any submissions.
Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca, also a major COVID-19
vaccine producer, agreed to buy Alexion in December in its
largest ever deal in a bet on rare-disease and immunology drugs
and to diversify away from its fast-growing cancer business.
Cambridge, UK-based AstraZeneca's shareholders approved the
proposal at a general meeting earlier this month.
The United States has cleared the deal, as have other
countries including Canada, Brazil and Russia.
"The commencement of the UK CMA’s formal review is another
important step towards closing of the proposed acquisition,
which we continue to expect will be in the third quarter of
2021," a representative for AstraZeneca said.
Alexion did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
It's best-selling drug Soliris is used against a range of
rare immune-disorders including paroxysmal nocturnal
hemoglobinuria (PNH), which causes anaemia and blood clots.
AstraZeneca hopes an improved version of the drug has even
larger market potential. It expects to boost growth by
introducing Alexion's rare-disease medicines to China and other
emerging markets.
(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika
Syamnath, Kirsten Donovna)
