Sanofi sees U.S. generic Plavix exhausted in Q2

Thu May 3, 2007 2:31am EDT

LONDON May 3 (Reuters) - French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA) expects cheap generic stocks of its top-selling blood thinner Plavix to run out in the United States during the second quarter of this year.

"We believe the generic stocks will be finally exhausted during the ongoing second quarter of 2007," head of pharmaceuticals Hanspeter Spek told analysts in a post-results conference call on Thursday.

Sales of Plavix, which is marketed in the United States by Sanofi's partner Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY.N), have been depressed in recent quarters by an overhang of generic versions, even though fresh sales of generics into the supply chain are no longer permitted.

((Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Paul Bolding; email: ben.hirschler@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: ben.hirschler.reuters.com@reuters.net; +44 20 7542 5082)) Keywords: SANOFI RESULTS/PLAVIX

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