AstraZeneca's (AZN -1.8%) purchase of Ardea Biosciences (RDEA +51.5%) may be the first in a...

AstraZeneca's (AZN -1.8%) purchase of Ardea Biosciences (RDEA +51.5%) may be the first in a series of deals for the company. The drug developer is considering buying other late-stage assets outside its research and development focus on cancer, diabetes and gastrointestinal ailments, in an effort to counter looming generic competition.