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   10,   2004,    Sanofi-Aventis    (formerly   known   as
Sanofi-Synthelabo)    published    the   attached    notice   on   its   website
(www.sanofi-aventis.com),  announcing  that as at  Thursday,  December  9, 2004,
18.00 hours  (CET)  Sanofi-Aventis's  mandatory  offer for the shares in Hoechst
Aktiengesellschaft   has  been   accepted   for   307,472   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 9, 2004, announcing number of
                   Hoechst shares tendered into mandatory offer by
                   Sanofi-Aventis to the shareholders of Hoechst AG, as of
                   December 9, 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 10, 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 9, 2004, announcing number of
                   Hoechst shares tendered into mandatory offer by
                   Sanofi-Aventis to the shareholders of Hoechst AG, as of
                   December 9, 2004 at 18:00 hours (CET).