Arbitration decision initially expected by end of 2022
Unclear what delayed decision implies analyst
Sanofi expects Q4 boost, driven by FX and flu vaccine sales

PARIS, Jan 4 Reuters French drugmaker Sanofi said on Wednesday its dispute with Germany39;s Boehringer Ingelheim over potential liability for cancer claims in the United States, linked to heartburn drug Zantac, would be decided this quarter at the earliest.

The two companies are in arbitration to decide what Sanofi39;s obligations might be, given Sanofi acquired the marketing rights to Zantac from Boehringer in 2017.

A decision was initially expected by the end of 2022. Now, Sanofi sees it some time this year, and at the end of the first quarter at the earliest.

Obviously as with all arbitrations, this is a completely closed process so there39;s no way to know if this means anything in any way at all, Barclays analyst Emily Field said.

Sanofi39;s shares were up nearly 1 in morning trade, hitting highs last seen in August earlier in the session.

Thousands of U.S. lawsuits claiming Zantac caused cancer have been disputed by the plethora of drugmakers that have sold either the branded or generic version of the drug since it was initially approved in 1983 and went on to become one of the first medicines to top 1 billion in sales.

Originally marketed by a forerunner of GSK, the medicine has been sold at different times by companies including Pfizer, Boehringer and Sanofi as well as several generic…