Pharmaceutical company intelligence reports from Espicom provide a full review of the company's activities together with five-year sales forecasts for its key products. The company's financial performance is covered in-depth, from its latest results to a complete analysis of its latest full fiscal year and an outlook for the future. A section on company strategy covers mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, key agreements, products and R&D. An overview of key products and R&D is followed by a comprehensive review of the company's product portfolio and research and development pipeline by therapeutic area. In addition, supplementary appendices provide more in-depth information on financials, agreements and corporate events. sanofi-aventis was formed in August 2004, when Sanofi-Synthélabo acquired control of Aventis. Subsequently, on 31st December 2004, Aventis merged with and into sanofi-aventis, with sanofi-aventis as the surviving company. The combined entity ranks third amongst research-based pharmaceutical companies behind Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline.

sanofi-aventis is focused on two core areas, pharmaceuticals (principally prescription drugs) and human vaccines. Within the pharmaceutical area, sanofi-aventis is active in the following therapeutic areas: Cardiovascular/Thrombosis, Metabolism, Oncology, Central Nervous System and Internal Medicine (which includes Respiratory/Allergy, Urology, Arthritis/Osteoporosis and Anti-infectives).

The company has a strong position in Europe, particularly the key markets of Germany, France and Italy. In addition, the acquisition of a shareholding in Zentiva in March 2006, reaffirms sanofi-aventis' commitment to emerging Eastern European markets. The acquisition of Aventis in August 2004, also significantly strengthened Sanofi-Synthélabo's position in the US. Aventis also brought with it a significant presence in Latin America.

Continued growth of key products such as Taxotere are currently stimulating growth for sanofi-aventis in Japan; the approval of Plavix for the treatment of stroke (January 2006) will further boost sales and is expected to expand sanofi-aventis' profile within this market. In addition, in July 2007, sanofi-aventis announced the buy back in Japan of marketing rights from 1st January 2008, of seven of its products. These products are currently marketed by Chugai and Mitsubishi. This marks a new strategy for sanofi-aventis in Japan.

Of sanofi-aventis' top 15 products, six recorded strong double-digit growth in 2006, three moderate single-digit growth and one maintained fairly static sales. Five products showed a decline in sales; Allegra and Amaryl in particular, were hit particularly hard by intense generic competition, falling by 48.9 and 33.4 per cent respectively.