US-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J), a global healthcare company said it was in preliminary talks with Actelion Pharmaceuticals about a potential takeover of Europe's largest biotech firm, currently valued at about $20 billion, a report said.

An acquisition of the Swiss company would boost J&J's drug pipeline and diversify its prospects, added the Reuters report.

There can be no assurance any transaction will result from these discussions, both Johnson & Johnson and Actelion said in separate statements.

Actelion is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative drugs for diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

Its portfolio of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatments covers the spectrum of disease, from WHO Functional Class (FC) II through to FC IV, with oral, inhaled and intravenous medications. Although not available in all countries, Actelion has treatments approved by health authorities for a number of specialist diseases including Type 1 Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick type C disease, Digital Ulcers in patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, and mycosis fungoides type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Founded in late 1997, with now over 2,500 dedicated professionals covering all key markets around the world including Europe, the US, Japan, China, Russia and Mexico, Actelion has its corporate headquarters in Allschwil / Basel, Switzerland.