THE bid for SA Druggists by a United States drug firm, Argyll Scientific, has collapsed as local firm Macmed which was connected to the deal has withdrawn from the negotiations. Macmed claims it gave Argyll time to come up with an acceptable proposal but that it failed to do so timeously. Macmed is now likely to try to find another partner to investigate the purchase of SA Druggists. Meanwhile the Securities Regulation Panel has asked Argyll to clarify its position in the matter for the second time. Investment banks like Real Africa Durolink and potential partners like Macmed have moved away from the Texas firm throughout the negotiation process.