The company said in July it would stockpile drugs as a Brexit safety net, and CEO Pascal Soriot told the Sunday Times in an interview that the complexity of the supply chain in pharmaceuticals meant that delays would be likely.

"We have products that go back and forth between the UK and Europe at different stages of manufacturing," he was quoted as saying. "If drugs are stuck, you have a problem."

Separately, the Sunday Times reported that Jaguar Land Rover was considering following BMW's lead and bringing forward its annual summer factory shutdown to coincide with Britain's departure from the EU in case there is no deal, but added no decision had been taken.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Sandra Maler)