Aventis, one of France's biggest pharmaceutical companies, plans to exit a joint venture with its Vietnamese partner the Sai Gon Pharmaceutical Company (Sapharco), to set up an independent and wholly foreign-owned company in Vietnam.

Aventis said that despite certain achievements gained during the co-operation, it believed it was time to operate independently. The new company, Aventis SRL, said it would market a number of new drugs in Vietnam, as well as boost exports to neighbouring countries.