sanofi

French drug company Sanofi-Aventis (SNY) has finally made a deal to buy biotech company Genzyme (GENZ) for $20.1 billion, about $74 a share. Genzyme shareholders will get a contingent value right that represents potential future payments if Lemtrada, the company's multiple sclerosis drug, is a...

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.

After a couple of fairly sleepy years, mergers and acquisition activity has bounced back dramatically, with potential long-term consequences for the stock market. It's a rare ray of hope at a time when other economic indicators are pointing straight toward the floor.

Shares of biotechnology drug-maker Genzyme soared as high as 20% Friday on reports that Sanofi-Aventis is considering a takeover.

Sanofi-Aventis announced Monday it will acquire Chattem Inc. for about $1.9 billion -- paying $93.50 per share, a 34% premium over Chattem's closing price Friday. The deal will create the world's fifth-largest consumer health-care company by revenues and helps Sanofi diversify into over-the-counter and consumer brands: a strategy used by Johnson & Johnson, and one many pharmas seek to adopt before the coming patent cliff.