NEW YORK — Allergan plc and Pfizer Inc. have confirmed they’re exploring a possible combination.

Dublin, Ireland-based Allergan released a statement Thursday saying it’s in early talks with Pfizer about a possible deal, and Pfizer later affirmed Allergan’s statement.

No other details were disclosed by the two pharmaceutical companies — a merger of which would mark the biggest such deal in a busy M&A year for the health care sector, media reports said.

“Allergan plc today confirmed that it has been approached by Pfizer Inc. and is in preliminary friendly discussions regarding a potential business combination transaction,” Allergan said, noting that no agreement has been reached and no transaction may result. “Under any potential scenario with Pfizer, Allergan remains strongly committed to complete the proposed divestment of its global generics business to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and expects the generics divestiture transaction to close in the first quarter of 2016.”

In a statement, New York-based Pfizer said it “confirms that it is in preliminary friendly discussions with Allergan in relation to a potential transaction” and added that it “will not comment on speculation regarding the terms of a potential transaction.”