French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis plans to expand its Merial animal health business through bolt-on acquisitions, its chief executive said on the sidelines of a conference on Wednesday.

"Bolt-ons are going to be easier" than large acquisitions, Chris Viehbacher said. This was because of competition issues in the increasingly consolidating industry.

Sanofi and Merck on Tuesday dropped plans to combine Merial with Merck's Intervet/Schering Plough (ISP) veterinary business.