Seeking to inflate growth potential and lower its dependence on blockbuster products, Sanofi-Aventis S. A. is in a positive discussion with an impending partner to penetrate the Japanese generic drug market.

Without naming that potential partner, the French drug maker's Chief Executive, Christopher Viehbacher said, ""We are interested in the Japanese generic market, we are in discussions with a partner and those discussions are successful".

Where the Government is looking forward to twofold the utilization of generic products in the world's second major pharmaceutical market to 30% by 2013, it is the motivation for the emerging interest among overseas drug makers in the generic drug business in Japan.

The hold of Sanofi-Aventis in Japan's generic drugs market will add to the bloodthirsty pressure on smaller domestic suppliers. And the area already see some foreign companied there, such as, Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Besides the above mentioned, there is Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., which is the origin company of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., also in the market.

The fiscal year that ended March 31, 2009 saw a 17.6% share of generic drugs of Japan's $80 billion-a-year drug market. Lately, there are reports coming up that Sanofi-Aventis is planning to venture with Japan's biggest generic drug maker, Nichi-iko Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.