1.   The deal ranks as the biggest drug industry merger on record.

2.   But the growing numbers of drug mergers is raising concerns in Washington.

3.   Drug mergers show no signs of reaching an expiration date.

4.   That was the case when the FTC ruled against the drug mergers.

5.   The details of the deal could be announced as early as Wednesday, analysts said, continuing a sudden wave of European drug mergers sweeping across Europe.

6.   The Glaxo offer is the latest in a string of drug mergers, and it has traders touting more takeover candidates.

7.   There has only been one drug company merger, the one that created Aventis, that outperformed its peer group.

8.   A planned drug company merger between Ivax of the United States and Hafslund Nycomed of Norway was called off Wednesday due to stockholder opposition.

9.   News of a huge drug industry merger also acted as a catalyst.