Teva Pharmaceuticals, already the world's biggest maker of generic drugs, has outshined U. S. drugs powerhouse Pfizer and Iceland's Actavis in the race for Ratiopharm. The agreement between the two companies is expected to take place soon, after a nine-month battle for about 3.5 billion Euros ($4.78 billion).

Berlin - Ratiopharm, one of Germany's best-known drug companies, was put up for sale Wednesday, two days after its struggling owner committed suicide by throwing himself under a train.