The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street This Week

5. Trade Dress for Success

Advancis Pharmaceutical (AVNC Quote) is moving forward again.

The Germantown, Md., developer of anti-infective drugs agreed this week to rename itself. A federal court found in September that Advancis infringed on the trademark of France's Sanofi-Aventis (SNY Quote). The companies agreed last month to a settlement under which Advancis will change its corporate name by June 30, 2007.

It's hardly a huge loss, given that Advancis wasn't exactly an apt moniker for much of the company's history. Advancis came public in October 2003 at $10 a share, but the stock traded above that level just briefly before plunging into the low single digits. Shares touched bottom back in August 2005 at 86 cents each.

But that's all changed in the last year. Advancis shares have tripled over the course of 2006, fetching a recent $4.11 apiece.

"We are gratified that we were able to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with Sanofi-Aventis to resolve the trademark issue without significant hardship or financial impact to Advancis," CEO Edward M. Rudnic said Tuesday. "We are pleased to have an ample period of time to effect an orderly transition to a new corporate identity and have recently started the process to select a new corporate name."

After this year's rally, at least they won't have to settle on "Declinis."

Dumb-o-Meter score: 79. Sanofi-Aventis, mired in its Plavix mess, finally found a courtroom battle it could win.