Sanofi-Aventis Trips in Court

Shares of Sanofi-Aventis (SNY Quote) dropped Thursday after the company said it had suffered a legal setback in a U.S. patent fight involving its best-selling drug, the blood thinner Lovenox.

Sanofi-Aventis said it will appeal a June 15 decision by a federal District Court in California granting a summary judgment in favor of privately held Amphastar Pharmaceuticals of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Sanofi-Aventis's stock fell $2.16, or 5%, to $41.11. It was down as low as $40.42 on volume of more than 14 million shares. That's more than 12 times the average daily trade. ...