UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                ----------------
                                    FORM 6-K

                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                        PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
                    UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                                ----------------
                         For the month of December 2004

                        Commission File Number: 001-31368

                                 SANOFI-AVENTIS
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                   174, avenue de France, 75013 Paris, FRANCE
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                   Form 20-F [X]        Form 40-F [ ]

     Indicate  by check mark if the  registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): _____

     Indicate  by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): _____

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                    Yes [ ]                     No [X]

     If "Yes" marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________



     On December 9, 2004,  Sanofi-Aventis  (formerly known as Sanofi-Synthelabo)
published   the  attached   notice  on  its  website   (www.sanofi-aventis.com),
announcing  that  as  at  Wednesday,   December  8,  2004,   18.00  hours  (CET)
Sanofi-Aventis's  mandatory  offer for the shares in Hoechst  Aktiengesellschaft
has been accepted for 277,831 shares in Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft, representing
0.05% of the share capital and the voting rights of Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft. 

                                  EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit No.                        Description
-----------                        -----------
Exhibit 99.1       Notice, dated December 8, 2004, announcing number of Hoechst 
                   shares tendered into mandatory offer by Sanofi-Aventis to the
                   shareholders of Hoechst AG, as of December 8, 2004 at 18:00  
                   hours (CET).                                                 



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned,thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: December 9, 2004                        SANOFI-AVENTIS


                                               By:   /s/ Jean-Claude Leroy
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Name:  Jean-Claude Leroy      
                                                  Title: Senior Vice President &
                                                         Chief Financial Officer



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                        Description
-----------                        -----------
Exhibit 99.1       Notice, dated December 8, 2004, announcing number of Hoechst 
                   shares tendered into mandatory offer by Sanofi-Aventis to the
                   shareholders of Hoechst AG, as of December 8, 2004 at 18:00  
                   hours (CET).