In a meeting Wednesday to discuss the

proposed buyout of Genzyme, sanofi-aventis CEO Chris Viehbacher reported that he sees "a reasonable shot at a deal getting done at a reasonable price," but warned that "it's not going to be a quick process."

Tom Helme of Victoria Capital said "the deal will get done. [Sanofi-aventis] desperately needs to bolster its late-stage pipeline."

Viehbacher noted that he met with investors last week who own approximately 50 percent of Genzyme shares to discuss sanofi-aventis' offer of $69 a share.

"We believe that the Genzyme shareholders are willing to sell at a reasonable price," adding that "now we just need to be able to sit down with management and … work things out."

The executive remarked that it "was easier to see Genzyme shareholders than management, but that will hopefully change very shortly."

The CEO indicated that sanofi-aventis would not be rushed into a deal for Genzyme, despite the US biotechnology company rejecting the drugmaker's original $18.5-billion offer.

 "I don't see anybody else coming into the deal, so that's not pushing anybody in terms of speed," Viehbacher commented, adding that "I don't think they are in a hurry and neither are we in hurry."