Sanofi-aventis has posted consolidated net profit growth of 13.4 per cent during the third quarter ended September 2010 to Euro 1,609 million from Euro 1,419 million in the corresponding period of last year. Its net sales improved by 5.7 per cent to Euro 7,821 million from Euro 7,400 million. The sales growth was impacted by generic competition to several products, including Lovenox in the US.

The pharmaceutical sales during the quarter under review declined by 3.5 per cent to Euro 6,595 million. The diabetes division sales increased by 6.7 per cent to Euro 1,097. The sales of Lantus, the world's leading diabetes brand, improved by 6.7 per cent to Euro 900 million. Sales in the US were Euro 553 million, up by 5.9 per cent and these figures include an accrual related to US healthcare Reform and reflect a reduction in inventory. In emerging markets its sales increased by 7.3 per cent to Euro 128 million and that in Western Europe increased by 5 per cent to Euro 170 million.


The sales of human vaccines business improved by 8.9 per cent to Euro 1,226 million excluding pandemic influenza vaccine sales, reflecting the strong underlying performance of the business. Third-quarter net sales in emerging markets grew by 35.2 per cent to Euro 322 million. Seasonal influenza vaccine sales increased by 39.8 per cent to Euro 448 million. The net sales at Sanofi Pasteur MSD, the joint venture with Merck & CO in Europe, declined by 14 per cent to Euro 301 million.

Sanofi's generic business improved by 18.9 per cent to Euro 390 million, led by clopidogrel winthrop sales in France. Its Consumer Health Care division's sales went up sharply by 45.8 per cent to Euro 576 million. This performance was driven by Emerging markets where net sales grew by 41 per cent to Euro 277 million.

Sanofi-aventis net sales in the US declined by6.2 per cent to Euro 2,499 million during the quarter ended September 2010 and that in Western Europe declined by 11.2 per cent to Euro 2,188 million.

For the first nine months of 2010, the company's net sales increased by 4.8 per cent to Euro 22,980 million from Euro 21,945 million in the similar period of last year. Its consolidated net profit increased by 24 per cent to Euro 5,030 million from Euro 4,056 million. Its R&D expenditure increased by 3.3 per cent to Euro 5,510 million from Euro 5,334 million. Its sales in US and Europe declined to Euro 6,859 and Euro 6,851 million respectively, a de-growth of 6.8 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively.