Sanofi-Aventis lowered its forecast for 2010

The pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis, seeking a major acquisition, had approached the U.S. biotech Genzyme understands the Wall Street Journal on its website. In early July, the French had been the subject of market rumors about a proposed acquisition of U.S. $ 20 billion.

"Discussions are still in their infancy and there is no agreement expected in the immediate future. Issues such as price and management have not yet been addressed. " Both groups refuse to aAny comment.

According to the U.S. daily, officials from Genzyme, which specializes in products for the treatment of orphan diseases, are studying the amount that Sanofi would pay.In Stock, Genzyme capitalization stood at 14 billion dollars (10.8 billion euros) but the group can require a significant premium given its portfolio of drugs. "If we take as a starting point around the 20 billion dollars that has been discussed before, this puts Genzyme to $ 75 (per share)," said Michael Yee, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

Blow to Lovenox that will have to battle against a generic

In exchange, the action Genzyme has skyrocketed 15% to 62.52 dollars at the close of Wall Street. And during transactions unofficial title continued to grow.

Faced with competition from generic drugs, many pharmaceutical companies are looking for external growth.And the more that Sanofi-Aventis has paid this Friday a blow, with the approval by U.S. health officials the first of its generic anti-coagulant Lovenox star, his second top-selling drug in the world. "The FDA today approved the Administrationa first generic version of Lovenox, the FDA announced in a statement posted on its website.

This product is developed by the Swiss Sandoz, the generic arm of Novartis, Momenta and American society.Sales of Lovenox, a drug derived from heparin and more complex to copy a traditional chemical molecule had reached 3 billion euros worldwide in 2009, including $ 1.8 billion in the United States.

Sanofi-Aventis revised downwards its forecast 2010

In the first quarter 2010, sales of this drug was 769 million euros, which was still the second largest group of drugs sold worldwide. The FDA's decision also forced to Sanofi-Aventis to reduce its forecast for earnings per share for the year 2010. Sanofi has not waited for the publication of its results on July 29 to do to the markets. "At this stage, the group plans an evolution of the EPS (earnings per share, editor's note) activities for 2010 of between 0% and -4% compared to 2009 at constant exchange rates," says Sanofi- Aventis said in a statement issued late Friday.

In April, the group had confirmed capitalize on growth in earnings per share from 2 to 5% (at constant exchange rates). But this prediction was made without taking into account competition "potential" of a generic Lovenox.

In the longer term, Sanofi-Aventis said in its statement that it "renews its objectives for 2013, as was disclosed in July 2009. At this point the focus group said two billion euros in savings in 2013 compared to 2008, to prepare for the scheduled loss of patent protecting its key drugs in favor of generic manufacturers.

The sales of Sanofi made in the USA by its anticancer Eloxin fell sharply after the launch of generic versions, while its other cancer drugs, Taxotere, will drop its patent to the public in November in Europe and United States.

In late June, Sanofi announced the acquisition of American TargeGen for 560 million dollars (458.5 million euros) in order to strengthen the fight against cancer.

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