Sanofi-Aventis to Cut U.S. Sales Jobs

NEW YORK -- French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY Quote) is cutting an unspecified number of U.S. sales jobs as part of a realignment of its marketing.

The company said in an emailed statement that it is realigning its sales force. The changes, it said, would affect a single-digit percentage of its 6,500-person U.S. sales force, implying jobs cuts of fewer than 650.

Sanofi said in the statement that the moves are part of "a new commercial model designed to deliver greater value to our customers in a rapidly changing business environment."

The company, whose U.S. headquarters is in Bridgewater, N.J., did not say which locations the cuts are affecting.

The cuts follow on similar moves made by other drugmakers, including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK Quote), Novartis (NVS Quote) and Merck (MRK Quote), as they try to cut costs and improve sales amid increasing competition from cheaper generic drugs, more pressure from payers to hold down prices and other challenges.