Sanofi-Aventis

    By Melly Alazraki

    | 12:30PM 3/08/2011
    Japan's health ministry says it's continuing its suspension of pediatric vaccines made by Pfizer and Sanofi-Aventis, despite finding no connection between the vaccines and the deaths of four children. Both drugmakers are cooperating with the government and expect to be cleared.

    By Melly Alazraki

    | 1:50PM 3/07/2011
    Two pediatric vaccines have been suspended in Japan after the deaths of four children. Shares of Sanofi-Aventis and Pfizer, which make the drugs, have fallen in midday trading.

    By Melly Alazraki

    | 8:00AM 2/27/2011
    The pharmaceutical industry is ready to fall off a cliff -- a "patent cliff." Over the next few years, some of the world's most popular and lucrative medicines will go off patent, and generic competition will siphon an estimated quarter of a trillion dollars from drugmakers' bottom lines.

    By Melly Alazraki

    | 12:30PM 1/28/2011
    Sanofi-Aventis announced its cancer drug candidate iniparib failed in a late-stage clinical trial. Other pharmaceutical companies have also experienced recent setbacks as they scramble to bolster their pipelines ahead of the patent cliff, when they will be forced to compete with cheaper generics.

    By Gene Marcial

    | 7:30AM 12/27/2010
    This little-known biopharmaceutical outfit has signed not just one but seven partnership pacts with Big Pharmas to help develop some of its products. Micromet's No. 1 appeal: It's developing novel antibody-based drugs to treat cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

    By Melly Alazraki

    | 10:50AM 12/20/2010
    The U.S. biotech is holding an analyst and investor meeting focused on the commercial potential of its multiple sclerosis drug Campath. The goal: to convince Paris-based Sanofi-Aventis to raise its hostile takeover offer in a battle that has now gone on for five months.

    By Danny King

    | 7:30PM 10/22/2010
    Genzyme, which makes drugs to treat leukemia and multiple sclerosis, has rejected a hostile takeover bid from French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis. The offer "dramatically undervalues" Genzyme, the company said Friday, putting its value about 30% higher.

    By Melly Alazraki

    | 12:20PM 10/15/2010
    French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis says its multiple sclerosis drug teriflunomide significantly cut relapses in patients who took the once-daily oral treatment.

    By David Schepp

    | 11:47AM 10/08/2010
    Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) said Friday it plans to lay off 1,700 workers at its U.S. pharmaceutical operations, which amounts to about 25% of its U.S. workforce. The cutbacks are part of an ongoing restructuring to streamline its business amid a "challenging health care marketplace," the company said in...

    By Melly Alazraki

    | 8:30AM 10/08/2010
    There's a new plot twist in the takeover battle between French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis and U.S. drugmaker Genzyme. A regulatory filing made by Genzyme on Thursday claims Sanofi may be willing to go much higher than its current $69 bid -- a claim the French company disputes.