Goldman Sachs, which revealed better-than-expected first quarter results on Monday, has made a clean sweep on mega US pharmaceutical deals after picking up its fourth multi-billion dollar mandate this year. Its mandate comes as pharmaceuticals megadeals continue to prop up an otherwise depressed market for mergers and acquisitions.

Express Scripts has signed a definitive agreement to buy WellPoint's NextRx subsidiaries for $4.7bn (€3.5bn) in cash and stock, according to a statement from the group. Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are advising WellPoint while Credit Suisse, JP Morgan and Citigroup are advising Express Scripts.