9 February 2012 - Healthcare company Sanofi (Euronext:SAN) (NYSE: SNY) and biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced yesterday that Apotex has made a payment of USD442,209,362 to Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb to satisfy the damages ruling of the Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) patent infringement case against Apotex.

This payment, which follows the decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in October 2011 upholding the payment of damages to the companies by Apotex, represents the final phase of the Plavix patent litigation between the companies and Apotex, which was initiated on 21 March 2002.

Also, Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb were awarded USD1,258,682 in post-judgment interest and USD900,000 in costs in addition to the damages award.

The patent litigation refers to the launch by Apotex of a generic version of clopidogrel bisulfate in 2006.