Cigna won’t be pursuing a deal with Humana, the health insurer said Monday. In light of recent and persistent speculation, Cigna confirmed that it is not pursuing a combination with Humana, in a press release early Monday.

Cigna Group is not pursuing a combination with rival Humana, the health insurer said on Monday, days after Donald Trump's re-election as U.S. president raised investor hopes that the reported merger may pass antitrust scrutiny.

The flat-out denial comes after Cigna CEO David Cordani tried to throw cold water on persistent speculation of a Humana merger earlier this fall.