Wyeth Salutes World Health Organization Call to Action to Combat Pneumococcal Disease

Wyeth Salutes World Health Organization Call to Action to Combat Pneumococcal Disease

March 23, 2007

PREVENAR can help fight number one vaccine-preventable
cause of death in young children worldwide


    COLLEGEVILLE, Pa., March 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE),
salutes the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision to
support the inclusion of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
(PCV) in national immunization programs worldwide.  In view
of the demonstrated vaccine efficacy and high disease
burden, WHO notes that PCV can help substantially reduce
mortality and morbidity.  Pneumococcal disease is a
significant concern to children's health, estimated by WHO
to result in up to 1 million deaths each year in young
children around the world. 

    "Reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease is a
vital step toward achieving the United Nations' Millennium
Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds
by 2015," says Bernard Poussot, President, Chief
Operating Officer and Vice Chairman, Wyeth.  "Broad
adoption of the WHO position has the potential to save
millions of children's lives around the world.  Wyeth is
dedicated to doing its part, in collaboration with the GAVI
Alliance, other international agencies and local
governments, to bring PREVENAR(TM) (Pneumococcal Saccharide
Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed) to the world's most vulnerable
populations through an affordable and sustainable plan that
is reflective of global economic and market
conditions."

    Wyeth recently applied to WHO for pre-qualification
status for PREVENAR.  If accepted, this status will enable
international agencies to include the vaccine in mass
immunization programs in the world's least developed
countries.  The pre-qualification process is expected to be
completed by early 2008. 

    "To date, Wyeth has invested more than $1 billion
in state-of-the-art facilities for the manufacturing of
PREVENAR and the development and production of future
vaccines," says Jim Connolly, General Manager and
Executive Vice President, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Vaccines
Business Unit. "These investments have resulted in a
robust supply outlook for PREVENAR, which is an essential
part in helping to protect both current and future
generations against this potentially devastating
disease." 

    Many health authorities already have recognized the
importance of protecting infants and young children against
pneumococcal disease.  PREVENAR now is available in 74
countries and is part of the routine national childhood
immunization schedule in 16 of these countries worldwide.

    In addition, Wyeth is developing a 13-valent
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that targets additional
serotypes.  This investigational vaccine currently is
undergoing clinical development and potentially would offer
broader coverage against pneumococcal disease for both
infants and adults.

    About Pneumococcal Disease

    Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium
Streptococcus pneumoniae and describes a group of
illnesses, including bacteremia/sepsis, meningitis,
pneumonia and otitis media.  Pneumococcal disease affects
both children and adults and, according to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, is a leading cause
of death and illness worldwide.  WHO estimates that
pneumococcal disease results in up to 1 million deaths each
year in young children worldwide.  Further, according to
WHO, pneumococcal disease is the number one
vaccine-preventable cause of death in children less than
five years of age worldwide.

    Important Safety Information about PREVENAR 

    In clinical trials (n=18,168), the most frequently
reported adverse events included injection site reactions,
fever (greater than or equal to 38 degrees C/100.4 degrees
F), irritability, drowsiness, restless sleep, decreased
appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and rash.

    Risks are associated with all vaccines, including
PREVENAR.  Hypersensitivity to any vaccine component,
including diphtheria toxoid, is a contraindication to its
use.  PREVENAR does not provide 100 percent protection
against vaccine serotypes or protect against non-vaccine
serotypes.

    Wyeth Pharmaceuticals

    Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, has leading
products in the areas of women's health care, infectious
disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system,
inflammation, transplantation, hemophilia, oncology,
vaccines and nutritional products.
  
    Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven
pharmaceutical and health care products companies.  It is a
leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and
marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology
products and non-prescription medicines that improve the
quality of life for people worldwide.  The Company's major
divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer
Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.
 
    The statements in this press release that are not
historical facts are forward-looking statements based on
current expectations of future events and are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
statements.  These risks and uncertainties include the
inherent uncertainty of the timing and success of, and
expense associated with, research, development, regulatory
approval and commercialization of our products, including
with respect to our pipeline products; government
cost-containment initiatives; restrictions on third-party
payments for our products; substantial competition in our
industry, including from branded and generic products; data
generated on our products; the importance of strong
performance from our principal products and our anticipated
new product introductions; the highly regulated nature of
our business; product liability, intellectual property and
other litigation risks and environmental liabilities;
uncertainty regarding our intellectual property rights and
those of others; difficulties associated with, and
regulatory compliance with respect to, manufacturing of our
products; risks associated with our strategic relationships;
economic conditions including interest and currency exchange
rate fluctuations; changes in generally accepted accounting
principles; trade buying patterns; the impact of
legislation and regulatory compliance; risks and
uncertainties associated with global operations and sales;
and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed
from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including our current
reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and
annual report on Form 10-K, particularly the discussion
under the caption "Item 1A, RISK FACTORS."  The
forward-looking statements in this press release are
qualified by these risk factors.  We assume no obligation
to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future developments or
otherwise.


    For more information, please contact:

     Media 
      Natalie de Vane 
      Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
      Tel:   [phone]

      Douglas Petkus
      Wyeth
      Tel:   [phone]

     Investors 
      Justin Victoria
      Wyeth
      Tel:   [phone]