"...Meanwhile, Aventis will use its annual results presentation in London today to discuss progress in its pipeline of new drugs.

The group is expected to emphasise the sales potential of Taxotere, its chemotherapy drug, in different types of cancer. The drug has already been approved for advanced breast cancer and lung cancer, but the group is preparing applications for other uses of Taxotere.

Aventis is also expected to announce that a new cancer drug, a treatment for multiple sclerosis and a drug for sleep disorders have advanced to later-stage clinical trials.

"Aventis is likely to throw some big numbers at us for future sales predic- tions," said Kevin Scotcher, an analyst at SG Cowen in London..."