U.S. healthcare group Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and biotech group Actelion confirmed they are in talks after media reports about a potential deal sent the Swiss company's stock to a record high.

Shares in Actelion had jumped as much as 19 percent on the reports that a takeover may be brewing for the fast-growing biotechnology group.

"Actelion confirmed today that it has been approached by Johnson & Johnson about a possible transaction. There can be no certainty that a transaction will result," Actelion said in a brief statement.

Johnson & Johnson called the talks "preliminary discussions" and said it would not comment further "unless and until it is appropriate to do so, or a formal agreement has been reached."

The Swiss lung disease specialist has long been seen as a takeover target, and any deal could prompt competing bids, "most likely from" larger Swiss peer Novartis (NOVN.S), one investment banker told Reuters.

A person familiar with the situation told Reuters there was broader interest for Actelion from prospective suitors in the industry.

Another source close to Novartis, however, said the drugmaker was not very impressed by Actelion's drug pipeline.

Some investment bankers who follow the sector closely expressed scepticism that a deal would emerge in the end, calling Actelion an expensive asset whose product line-up would appeal to only a very small field of potential buyers.

Actelion shares surged by 18.8 percent at one point to a peak of 187.70 Swiss francs, valuing the company at around $20 billion. They closed up 16.8 percent at 184.50 Swiss francs, more than matching the share's total gains this year up to Thursday's close.

Before Actelion's statement, Eric Le Berrigaud, an analyst at brokerage Bryan Garnier, said he expected big Swiss drugmakers to express interest in Actelion if the talks were confirmed.

"We should then see many other (companies) interested (in Actelion). That will probably include at least one of the two other Basel-based companies," Le Berrigaud said, referring to Novartis and Roche.

Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Bryan Garnier said a bid could be worth up to 220 francs or 250 francs per share, respectively, stoked by appetite in the industry for fast growing businesses.

Actelion's Opsumit and Uptravi drugs to treat the life-threatening condition of high pressure in blood vessels to the lungs will generate more than $4.6 billion in combined 2020 sales, analysts forecast, up from an estimated 1.4 billion this year.

However, Actelion co-founder and Chief Executive Jean-Paul Clozel, who holds a 3.5 percent stake, has repeatedly said in the past he wants the company to remain independent.

In 2011, he managed to rally shareholders against activist investor Elliott's campaign to put the biotech firm on the auction block. The shares have more than tripled since then.

J&J agreed to buy Abbott Laboratories' eye care business for about $4.33 billion in cash in September and Chief Executive Alex Gorsky said earlier this year that the company was interested in deals to expand its main consumer, medical device and pharmaceuticals segments.