Ratiopharm says to launch generic Plavix soon

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Ratiopharm said on Friday it plans to launch a generic version of Sanofi-Aventis's (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) blockbuster blood thinning drug Plavix soon.

"Ratiopharm will soon offer the first cheaper alternative presciptions for clopidogrel," the family-owned generic drugs company said in a statement, using the generic name for Plavix.

It did not say where it planned to launch the drug but said that German prescriptions for the drug were worth around 340 million euros ($525.6 million) a year.

(Reporting by Patricia Gugau)