The primary objective of this study is to compare the effect of SAR236553 with placebo on the occurrence of cardiovascular events (composite endpoint of coronary heart disease (CHD) death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), fatal and non-fatal ischemic stroke, unstable angina requiring hospitalization) in patients who have experienced an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event 4 to 16 weeks prior to randomization and are treated with intensive statin therapy (defined as atorvastatin 40 or 80 mg, or rosuvastatin 20 or 40 mg) or at maximally tolerated dose of these given statins, or other non statin LMT(s). This study will be done in about 50 countries and will enroll about 18000 patients.