Sanofi-Aventis: 4Q Sales Figures

Sanofi-Aventis reported fourth-quarter results that its total sales fell 6% operationally year over year as generic competition weighed on growth.

French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis has posted fourth-quarter results. The world's fourth largest prescription drugmaker by sales reported a sharp drop in fourth-quarter earnings.

Figures are skewed by the 8% drop in EUR to USD exchange rate from 4Q09 to 4Q10 and the 5% drop from FY09 to FY10. At constant exchange rates, 4Q10 revenues were down 6% and FY10 revenues were up 1%. Lantus sales were up 9% for 4Q and FY to $1.2 billion and $4.6 billion, respectively. Lovenox sales were hurt by U.S. generics, dropping 11% for FY to $3.7 billion and 27% in 4Q to $791 million. Taxotere revenues also suffered from generic competition, dropping 20% in 4Q to $620 million and 6% FY to $2.8 billion.