• The New York Times, Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:45 AM

As shares of both Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis traded heavily yesterday on speculation that the companies might merge, analysts considered the impact the deal might have on the marketing efforts of the two firms.

One reason a merger makes sense is that the companies already jointly market the blockbuster anticoagulant Plavix and the blood-pressure medicine Avapro, products with a worldwide sales value of more than $8 billion. A combined company could market those products under one management structure.

A Banc of America Securities analyst, Christopher Schott, says the companies overlap in several therapeutic areas--including treatments for diabetes, cancer and blood clots--and a merged company could cut costs and become more competitive.

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