CONFIRMED: Johnson & Johnson is looking to buy a nearly $20 billion drugmaker (ATLN, JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson is looking to buy the Swiss drugmaker Actelion in what could be a nearly $20 billion deal.

Actelion on Friday confirmed Johnson & Johnson's interest, after Bloomberg first reported the potential takeover Thursday.

Shares of Actelion have jumped 16.7%, to 184.40 Swiss francs ($182), since Thursday morning, giving the company a market cap of around 19.4 billion Swiss francs.

The two companies are in early talks, Bloomberg reported, and a deal may not necessarily materialize.

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