AbbVie, an American pharmaceutical company headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois, failed to acquire Shire, a UK-founded Jersey-registered specialty biopharmaceutical company, for $55bn. "AbbVie has built a strong, sustainable strategy with a robust pipeline. Over the past 22 months we have delivered industry leading stockholder returns, our performance and business fundamentals remain strong, and we are on the cusp of a major new product launch with our treatment for HCV. We remain focused on building AbbVie’s business through enhanced internal R&D platforms, partnerships, strong commercial execution and licensing and acquisitions," Richard A. Gonzalez, AbbVie Chairman and CEO.