Sanofi, Bristol shake up alliance as patents end

PARIS (Reuters) – Drugmakers Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb said they plan to restructure their alliance from January 1 to respond to the loss of exclusivity on two key drugs and the arrival of generic competition in many major markets. The move will see Bristol-Myers return rights to blood clot preventer Plavix and blood pressure treatment Avapro to the French drugmaker in all markets, the companies said in a joint statement on Wednesday. This will give Sanofi sole commercial control of the two treatments, although Bristol-Myers will keep rights to Plavix in the United States and Puerto …