Sanofi-Aventis Q2 net up 61 percent

Drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA said net profit rose 61 percent to (EURO)1.7 billion ($2.2 billion) in the second quarter, thanks to lower restructuring costs, but warned that earnings may fall for the full year.

The Paris-based company's warned that its core earnings may drop by up to 4 percent this year as a result of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of a generic version of its Lovenox, an injected drug for preventing life-threatening blood clots.

The company's top executive also did little to bat down speculation that has emerged over the past month that he could be preparing a takeover bid for U.S. drug rival Genzyme Corp.

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