French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis on Tuesday announced to have completed its tender offer for shares of Chattem Inc., which makes Gold Bond skin products, Icy Hot pain relief packs, and Selsun Blue dandruff shampoo.

On Wednesday U. S. health officials approved a high-dose influenza vaccine for people aged 65 years and more. The vaccination is made by Sanofi-Aventis DA (SASY. PA).

The Food and Drug Administration said that the immune system becomes stronger with a higher dose that protects aged people better against seasonal flu.

As has been confirmed by the pharmaceutical giant, Sanofi-Aventis is looking to purchase US consumer health group Chattem Inc. in a deal which will cost the former a whopping $1.9 Billion, and the purchase will give the French drug manufacturer over-the-counter presence across the US.

Sanofi-Aventis changed its outlook for 2009. This happened due to the sales of swine flu vaccine and earnings posted per share growth that beat forecasts. The competition from other generics was deferred by revenue growth for other drugs.

Chris Viehbacher, the CEO of Sanofi-Aventis SA informed during an interview that they will keep shopping for acquisitions to build vaccine, biotechnology and nonprescription medicine businesses.

A big sum of 6.2 billion euros has already been spent this year on acquiring health-care companies and products as part of a strategy to bolster "five growth platforms".

As per the findings of the double-blind phase II SEPIA-ACS1/ TIMI-42 study, Otamixaban - an experimental anti-clotting drug manufactured by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis - can better prevent cardiac complications as well as deaths in heart patients having suffered mild attacks and severe chest pain, vis-à-vis standard treatment.

The Food and Drug Administration gathered over 35 experts for a two day meeting to find ways to prevent acetaminophen overdose. Acetaminophen is the pain reliving and fever reducing ingredient that is found in drugs like Tylenol and many other prescription and over the counter medications.

Results from a new study have suggested that Sanofi-Aventis’ insulin drug Lantus could raise the risk of cancer although some medical experts are saying the studies are inconclusive.

Four new studies of 300,000 patients released on Friday in the journal Diabetologia, the journal of the

According to the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, Sanofi-Aventis SA's Lantus diabetes drug was linked to an increased risk of cancer in studies in Germany and Sweden.

According to a new study an experimental vaccine by Sanofi-Aventis may curb a virus called cytomegalovirus ( CMV) in women, which might reduce CMV-related birth defects in their children.