A handful of women - three of whom once worked as sales reps for the drugmaker and two who still do - have succeeded in preventing the drugmaker from issuing subpoenas to their new employers, and even prospective employers, a tactic their lawyers accused Sanofi-Aventis of pursing in hopes of intimidating them into withdrawing their sexual discrimination lawsuit.

The info sought by drugmaker included resumes, applications, benefit data, payroll records, and references, among other things. In a motion filed in federal court in New York, the reps claim the move by Sanofi-Aventis was a fishing expedition and an invasion of personal rights that is irrelevant to the discrimation claims made and, instead, is designed to harass, embarrass and frighten.

The lawsuit was filed last year by Jennifer Storm, who nows work for Takeda Pharmaceuticals; Michelle Popa, who is employed by Baxter Healthcare; Amy Zeoli, who is with Boston Scientific; and two existing Sanofi reps, Nancy Beaney and Karen Bellifemine, both of whom have applied for jobs at Innovex and CV Therapeutics, respectively, according to court documents. Here is their original motion and here is the judge’s order.

UPDATE: A Sanofi-Aventis spokesman sends us this statement: “Sanofi-Aventis is an equal opportunity employer and vehemently denies the allegations made. Other than that we will not comment on pending litigation.”