4. Sanofi-Aventis - Top 15 R&D Budgets

Who: Sanofi-Aventis

Based: France

2006 Pipeline Budget: $6.44 billion (€4.40B)

2007 Pipeline News: Sanofi-Aventis has been thus far unsuccessful in gaining FDA approval for its potential blockbuster Acomplia in the U.S. Additionally, its Alzheimer's drug Xaliproden failed late-stage trials. However, Sanofi’s antidepressant saredutant passed its late-stage trials, setting up a schedule to file for approval in Europe and the U.S. next year, and the company has several promising entries lined up for the hot vaccine market. Sanofi has 48 therapies in late-stage development and expects to file on 31 of them by the end of 2010.

Phase III
> Rimonabant (Acomplia) - Type 2 diabetes
> NV1FGF (fibroblast growth factor) - Critical limb ischemia
> Eplivanserin, Volinanserin (5-HT2A antagonists) - sleep maintenance.
> Saredutant - Major depressive disorders and general anxiety disorders
> Amibegron - Major depressive disorders and general anxiety disorders
> Aflibercept (VEGF Trap): Advanced ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer
> S-1 - Second-line treatment for pancreatic cancer
> Menactra Toddler - Meningococcal meningitis
> Low-dose H5N1 flu vaccine with adjuvant
> Dianicline - Smoking cessation
> Ilepatril - Blood pressure reduction and long-term cardiovascular and renal protection.

Full Pipeline Site: Link