Sanofi-Aventis sales in Japan to double from 2005 to 2009

Sales of French drug major Sanofi-Aventis' Japanese subsidiary increased 172% to 215.0 billion yen ($2.11 billion) in 2007 from 125.0 billion yen in 2005 thanks to the growth of its anti-platelet agent Plavix (clopidogrel) and Allegra (fexofenadine HCl), an anti-allergic, said Philippe Fauchet, president of the firm at a Tokyo press conference earlier this month.

In addition, the firm's ranking on the Japanese market of 18th in 2005 was boosted to 13th in 2007 and by February this year the company, with annualized turnover of 224.0 billion yen, moved up to 11th position. Mr Fauchet expects the firm will join the top 10 in the Japanese drug market in 2009.

Plavix is the only anti-platelet drug expanding its market share in Japan, where it was granted acute coronary syndromes as an additional indication in October 2007. Allegra increased its anti-allergic market share from 17.6% in 2006 to 20.8% in 2007 because physicians perceive the product as not causing impaired performance. Taxotere (docetaxel) achieved a 33% share of the taxane market in January 2008, representing continuous growth since its launch in 1997. The company filed for an additional indication of prostatic cancer for the drug in February which is expected to be granted this year.