The boss of Pfizer has admitted to MPs there would be job cuts were a takeover of AstraZeneca to be successful.
Speaking at a hearing of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee on Pfizer's £63bn approach to the British-based firm, Ian Read said it was inevitable there would be job losses if the takeover went ahead.
He said they would look at where there was a duplication of activities and drugs that were similar and look to make cuts, and there "would be some job cuts somewhere - that's part of being more efficient".
However, he would not be drawn on "where in the world" the job cuts would be.
Mr Read also said they would slash research budgets and that the combined $12bn (£7.1bn) of both firms' research and development spend would have to be significantly lower.
The head of the US drugs giant repeated his guarantee to base 20% of Pfizer's research and development workforce in Britain but was unable to put a specific number on this adding that it was still an "unprecedented commitment".
Pfizer claims the newly created giant will mean improved treatments However, he did give assurances Pfizer would continue with the development of AstraZeneca's new research facilities in Cambridge.
When pushed on whether workers at the AstraZeneca Macclesfield site would keep their jobs, Mr Read would only say that a "substantial number will still be employed".
However, speaking after Mr Read, AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soroit warned there would be a significant disruption to the production of vital drugs should the merger go ahead, putting the lives of patients at risk.
He told MPs: "What would we tell the person whose father died of lung cancer because he could not have the drugs because the companies were too busy saving taxes, saving costs?"
Mr Soroit said there would inevitably be cost cutting as a result of a merger and that this would mean job cuts.
He added the proposal in its present form was not something the company would consider and if a hostile offer was launched then it would be for the shareholders to decide.
Mr Read had told MPs that the newly created £150bn pharmaceutical firm would also be "domiciled" in the UK and, therefore, pay tax to the British Government.
Union bosses voice concerns to MPs It was pointed out by MPs that this would actually represent a significant tax advantage for Pfizer as corporate tax in the UK is 20% as opposed to 38% in the US.
MPs are concerned over job losses among the 6,700-strong British-based workforce should Pfizer's takeover be successful because of the firm's poor track record.
Since 2005, the MPs were told, Pfizer had cut 65,000 jobs at its sites across the world.
Pfizer claims a takeover would mean the new firm would be able to bring better products to patients with improved treatments for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Unions warned MPs that the move, which would be the largest ever takeover of a British firm by a foreign company, would lead to job losses and damage scientific skills in Britain.
Tony Burke, of Unite, said the firm had a terrible track record and had been unwilling to engage properly with the unions when it had closed a UK base in Sandwich.
Pfizer's proposals have revived bitter memories of when American food giant Kraft abandoned jobs pledges after buying Cadbury in 2010.
Under takeover rules, having indicated its interest to shareholders, Pfizer now has until May 26 to make a formal offer, although one is widely expected later this week.
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