UPDATE 2-Sanofi wins ruling over Plavix in Apotex fight

(Adds Apotex CEO's comments)

WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Sanofi-Aventis SA (SASY.PA) (SNY.N) and Bristol Myers (BMY.N) won a ruling on Friday in a court battle over their top-selling blood-thinner Plavix in a fight with Apotex Inc, which had sought to bring out a generic version of the popular drug.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears patent appeals, upheld a ruling by the District Court for the Southern District of New York that said Sanofi's patent for clopidogrel bisulfate, the active ingredient in Plavix, was valid.

Plavix helps prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Apotex applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to bring out a generic version of the drug, arguing that Sanofi's patent was invalid.

"The district court thoroughly discussed the many issues and arguments raised by Apotex. We discern no error in the district court's findings," the federal circuit said in affirming its ruling.

Apotex, which briefly sold a generic Plavix, said that it would seek an en banc hearing which would include all the judges on the panel.

"We believe the Appeals Court made the wrong decision and will continue fighting to bring this product back into the market place," said Apotex Chief Executive Dr. Barry Sherman.

"We will pursue all options available to us in our effort to once again provide the public with a quality affordable generic Plavix," he said. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Derek Caney and Matthew Lewis)