The household was not necessarily completed

Chris Viehbacher is determined to continue shopping. The new pattern of Sanofi-Aventis announced today two new operations: the acquisition of a French company of biotechnologies, Fovea, and a partnership with the Merrimack American Oncology. In addition, it prepares to join the Schering-Plough U.S. to dominate the veterinary market, he said in an interview with the "echoes".

You have already spent EUR 6.2 billion in acquisitions since your arrival. Will you continue

Yes. We signed yesterday the purchase of the French company of biotechnologies Fovea. This operation between our strategy of strengthening research portfolio. The company has not yet sales, but has three products in clinical development in ophthalmology, an area experiencing rapid growth with the ageing of the population. Financially, we minimize risk because we donate, first, that EUR 90 million. The final price, which depends on the development of drugs, will move up to 370 million euros. The same caution applies to our partnership in Oncology just conclude with the American Merrimack, for which we make a first payment of $ 60 million. The amount can go up to $ 470 million if the drug on the market.

Do you exercise your option on Intervet Schering-Plough animal health centre, after having taken over 50 of Merck in Merial

We expect the completion of the merger between Merck and Schering-Plough, which must be carried in the last quarter of this year. Where the approximation will be effective, we will have 100 days to exercise our exclusive right. We then make our veterinary activity to a joint venture to 50-50 with Intervet, specialized pole of Schering-Plough. This operation would clearly create the leader in animal health, with a turnover between 5 billion and $ 5.5 billion, and $ 17 billion (including 9.2 billion for Intervet). To get 50, we would have to pay 750 million dollars in addition to the contribution of our activity, Merial. The two entities are very complementary, Merial being focused on company and Intervet animal production animals. Animal health is a source of sustainable growth which allows us to decrease our dependence on the "blockbusters".

You have announced the end of April a cleaning of the portfolio of research that led to the abandonment of 14 projects on 65. The household was not necessarily completed. Where are you

Four projects remain outstanding as their interest is not yet clearly established is Ave 1625 against schizophrenia, the vaccine against the disease of Nile, the product of Cardiology Idrabiotaparinux and xaliproden against some neuropathies, Editor's note. We will take a decision when the ongoing clinical studies will be completed by end 2009.

What do you do Porcheville site, in the Paris region, which employs approximately 200 people

It is a site of preclinical research, very linked to the development of the pharmacy, which we can fully use the capabilities. We will sell it and we are currently discussing with several partners. The assignment is not necessarily more difficult than if it were a plant. American clinical research group Quintiles and resumed a site of Aventis in Kansas City.

What do you think of the agreement that Johnson & Johnson has signed with the Dutch manufacturer of vaccines Crucell, with which you already have a partnership and that you have in mind to buy

It is a validation of the interest of the vaccines. We are leaders in this sector and the other laboratories have much to do to catch up. Vaccines are one of our five growth platforms, with emerging countries, diabetes, self-medication and new products.

Regarding the vaccine against influenza A (H1N1), Brussels approved GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis Vaccines. Yours is overdue.

In the US, where we sell a non-adjuvanted vaccine, we are in advance! For Europe, we have a vaccine without adjuvants for which clinical results are expected early next week. With respect to the complete record of the vaccine with adjuvant (which allows lower doses), it will be tabled late October.

In June, a study questioned the safety of your Lantus insulin, suspected of risks of cancer. Third-quarter accounts be affected

No, because there was almost no variation in the prescriptions of Lantus. It was recognized that these studies were of poor quality, because they did not take into account other risk factors of cancer such as obesity or alcohol consumption. We are also launching a vast program of research on insulin. It is essential for us to preserve the health and safety of patients and we are committed to explore the subject in depth.

German Ratiopharm is on sale. You have wished strengthen you generics with Zentiva in Czech Republic, the Brazil Medley, Kendrick to the Mexico. Will you continue

Indeed, we want to strengthen our positions in emerging countries. But Ratiopharm does not present the same interest for us because the company manufactures substitutable products, that pharmacists are engaged in a price war. Prices are very low and low margins. It's a different profession of Medley or Kendrick, who sell non-substitutable generics, for which the mark has its importance. The important thing is to have a very wide range and an offer tailored to local markets prices.

Rumours run interest that Sanofi-Aventis could acquire Allergan.

The acquisition of Fovea proves that we can enter the ophthalmology market without Allergan. In General, we look at all the possibilities. Since the beginning of the year, we investigated 250 cases with confidentiality agreement. Do not forget that there are 450 pharmaceutical companies India, 4,000 in China and 6,000 biotech firms in the world. It further less obvious folders and not to focus on listed companies. So it is sometimes more interesting partnerships than acquisitions, representing higher capital warnings.