Sanofi-Aventis reports net sales “hit hard” by generics

Sanofi-Aventis has that its net sales for the third quarter of 2006 had been “hit hard” thanks to introduction of four generic products in the US, including Plavix.

Over the course of 2006, overall sales have increased by 2.6, which would have been 8.1 per cent excluding the impact of the generic Plavix case, which has also hit its marketing partner, Bristol-Myers Squibb.

However, the company highlighted the progress made in launching Acomplia, the obesity treatment, across seven European countries, including the UK.

Despite the setbacks with the introduction of generic products in the US that has affected Allegra and Amaryl in addition to Plavix, Sanofi-Aventis expects earnings per share growth of approximately two per cent for the year, barring major adverse events.

Some drugs, such as Lantus and Ambien, provided the French pharmaceutical manufacturer with sales growth in excess of 30 per cent for the third quarter of the year, while its top-selling drug, Lovenox, has achieved a 13.2 per cent increase in sales for the first nine months of 2006.

Recently, Sanofi-Aventis’ UK operations said that the national launch of Acomplia had been very successful, partly because obesity is a major long-term health issue in Britain.

Nigel Brooksby, managing director of Sanofi-Aventis UK, told Reuters: “The UK launch has certainly met our expectations. The qualitative information we are receiving is that it is getting a very good reception.”