Drug Companies Push Into Central Europe.

The article reports on the acquisitions made by pharmaceutical companies, Sanofi-Aventis SA and Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., in Europe. Sanofi, which has just acquired 24.9 percent interest of Czech generic company, Zentiva AS, refers the move as part of its strategy to expand in Central and Eastern Europe. On the other hand, Ranbaxy will pay Advent International Corp. for a 97 percent stake in Terapia.