SNY Sanofi

By Noemie Bisserbe

PARIS--French drug maker Sanofi SA (SAN.FR) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday their experimental drug developed to treat patients with high levels of cholesterol showed promise in late-stage trials.

Phase III trials--studies conducted on large patients groups--showed that the new drug, known as Alirocumab, helped reduce bad cholesterol levels to a greater extent than other existing treatments or placebo drugs, said the two companies in a joint statement.

Sanofi research head Elias Zerhouni said he expected to submit the new drug for approval in the U.S. and in Europe by year-end.

Write to Noemie Bisserbe at noemie.bisserbe@wsj.com

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