Sanofi Pasteur to donate 60 million doses of H5N1 vaccine to WHO over 3 years for its influenza vaccine global stockpile

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, announced today its commitment to donate 60 million doses of H5N1 vaccine to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 3 years for the establishment of an H5N1 vaccine global stockpile.

"The H5N1 virus is currently circulating in some of the poorest regions of the world and an outbreak of pandemic influenza would most likely hit populations living in areas with limited access to vaccines. This donation of H5N1 vaccine aims to address the needs of those most vulnerable populations," said Wayne Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of sanofi pasteur.

"In addition to supporting the efforts of governments, it is essential that industry collaborates with international organizations such as WHO, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other global health players. This is the best way to build a stockpile of vaccines for developing nations, ready to be deployed on the ground in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak," added Pisano.

Sanofi Pasteur's leadership position in developing and producing influenza vaccines places the company at the forefront of readiness against the threat of pandemic influenza. The company is committed to addressing current and future public health needs by investing in a robust research and development program and in an ambitious seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine production plan.

Each year since 2004, sanofi pasteur produced millions of doses of H5N1 avian influenza vaccine, both in France and in the United States. In April 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed sanofi pasteur's H5N1 vaccine, the first avian influenza vaccine for humans in the U.S.

Sanofi Pasteur recently conducted clinical trials with a novel, proprietary adjuvant aimed at dramatically reducing the amount of antigen needed to elicit a protective immune response to the H5N1 strain currently identified by global health authorities and experts as a potential source for the next pandemic. These data show the ability of this new investigational H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine to generate a high immune response with a very low dose of H5N1 antigen.

Sanofi Pasteur is committed to producing as many doses as possible of its most advanced vaccine in the shortest possible timeframe should a pandemic be declared by WHO. Under such circumstances, sanofi pasteur's seasonal influenza vaccine facilities would globally be able to switch to pandemic vaccine manufacturing.

Sanofi Pasteur recently completed the construction of a new influenza vaccine manufacturing facility in the United States, incorporating the latest technology in vaccine production. This new facility is planned to go online in 2009. Sanofi Pasteur is also on track to build a facility to Lyon, France and Swiftwater, USA, June 16, 2008
Page 2 of 3 manufacture seasonal influenza vaccine in China for the local market.

This vaccine manufacturing facility is due to be operational by 2012. A new formulation and filling facility located in France is also planned to become operational in 2009. This new state-of-the-industry facility will boost sanofi pasteur's filling capabilities.

With the production of 180-million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine last year, sanofi pasteur confirmed its leadership by supplying an estimated 40 percent of the world influenza vaccine market1.

Reference: 1. Data based on internal estimates

Pandemic Influenza Overview
Influenza is a disease caused by a highly infectious virus that spreads easily from person to person, primarily when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. An influenza pandemic is a global epidemic of an especially virulent virus, newly infectious for humans, and for which there is no preexisting immunity. This is why pandemic strains have such potential to cause severe morbidity and mortality. The H5N1 viral strain has been identified by global health authorities as being a
potential cause of a pandemic. In an attempt to minimize the impact of a pandemic, many countries are developing national and transnational plans against a possible influenza pandemic situation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 383 cases of avian influenza transmitted to humans since 2003, with 241 resulting in death.
Sanofi Pasteur and Pandemic Preparedness Sanofi Pasteur is committed to global pandemic preparedness. As the world leader in research, development and manufacturing of influenza vaccines, sanofi pasteur is involved in pandemic
preparedness projects worldwide, with the goal of developing a vaccine to protect against a pandemic influenza virus. Sanofi Pasteur is also investing in major expansions of its seasonal influenza vaccine production facilities in the U.S. and France, which could be used to produce pandemic influenza vaccine if the need arises. For more information please visit
http://pandemic.influenza.com.

Sanofi-aventis är ett ledande globalt läkemedelsföretag som upptäcker, utvecklar och distribuerar behandlingslösningar som syftar till att förbättra människors liv. Sanofi-aventis är noterat på börserna i Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) och i New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, sanofi-aventis-koncernens vaccindivision, tillhandahöll mer än 1,6 miljarder vaccindoser 2007, vilket gjorde det möjligt att vaccinera mer 500 miljoner människor över hela världen. Som världsledande inom vaccinindustrin erbjuder sanofi pasteur det bredaste utbudet av vaccin som skyddar mot 20 infektionssjukdomar. Företagets arv, att skapa vaccin som skyddar liv, går tillbaka mer än ett århundrade. Sanofi Pasteur är det största företaget som enbart sysslar med vaccin. Varje dag investerar företaget mer än 1 miljon euro i forskning och utveckling. Mer information finns på: www.sanofipasteur.com eller www.sanofipasteur.us