Sanofi Extends Hand to Bypass Genzyme ‘Brick Wall’

Sanofi-Aventis SA Chief Executive Officer Chris Viehbacher has signaled he may raise his $18.5 billion cash bid for Genzyme Corp., if Genzyme’s management would come to the negotiating table.

Viehbacher, in a conference call today, said his offer of $69 a share is “a realistic starting price.” His counterpart at Genzyme, Henri A. Termeer, called the price “unrealistic” in a statement from the U.S. company earlier in the day.