The latest pharmaceutical major to enter into an agreement with a biotech player is Sanofi Aventis (SNY). Today, Sanofi agreed to buy a 78% stake in India-based Shantha Biotech for €550 million ($783 million). Sanofi is buying the stake from France’s Merieux Alliance, which bought a 60% holding in this company back in 2006 and later increased it to 80%.

With this deal, Sanofi would be able to target not only the fast growing vaccine segment but also the sought-after emerging market region. Apart from Sanofi, it is reported that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Novartis (NVS) were interested in acquiring a stake in Shantha Biotech.

Shantha Biotech, a player in the vaccine segment, works with several international agencies like the UNICEF in the regions of Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. The company is expected to post revenues of $90 million in 2009.

The company’s vaccines are available at an affordable price

Nephros, Inc.

(OTC: NEPH)

A reader of StocksHaven Investments by the name of Michael Sklar has contributed the following article regarding Nephros, Inc. The article outlines one of the most undervalued BioPharma companies around, at only $1.08 PPS with three pending FDA decisions. If you are an avid investor of pre-PDUFA companies, StocksHaven Investments highly suggests you conduct some due diligence on this company, as its potential value greatly outweighs the risks involved. About: Nephros, Inc. (Nephros) is engaged primarily in the development of hemodiafiltration (HDF), products and technologies for treating patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). The Company has three products in various stages of development in the HDF modality to deliver therapy to ESRD patients: OLpur MDHDF filter series (which it sells in various countries in Europe and consists of its MD190 and MD220 diafilters);