sanofi pasteur Influenza Vaccine Production Tops 170 Million Doses in 2006

sanofi pasteur Influenza Vaccine Production Tops 170 Million Doses in 2006

January 08, 2007

Record Production Capabilities Strengthen sanofi pasteur's
Global Leadership in the Fight Against Seasonal Influenza
and Place the Company at the Forefront of Pandemic
Readiness


    LYON, France and SWIFTWATER, Pa., Jan. 8
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- sanofi pasteur, the vaccines
business of the sanofi-aventis Group (NYSE: SNY; EURONEXT:
SAN), announced that it completed production of more than
170 million doses of influenza vaccine in 2006.

    sanofi pasteur confirmed its leadership as one of the
world's largest manufacturers of seasonal influenza
vaccine, supplying a very significant portion of the
estimated global production of about 350 million doses(1).

    As the global influenza vaccine leader, sanofi pasteur
has been steadily increasing its manufacturing capacity.
Since 2003, capacity has increased by more than 40% in line
with the company's commitment to serve a central role in the
fight against a disease that causes between three and five
million cases of severe illness and between 300,000 and
500,000 estimated deaths every year around the world
according to the Word Health Organization(1).

    In addition, 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 producing as
many doses of sanofi pasteur's most advanced vaccine in the
shortest possible timeframe, should a pandemic be declared
by the world's health authorities.

    "By producing a record number of doses of seasonal
influenza vaccine in 2006, sanofi pasteur demonstrates once
again its steadfast commitment to fight a serious disease
that affects the lives of millions of individuals each year
and heavily weighs upon public health systems
everywhere," said Jean-Francois Dehecq, Chairman and
CEO of sanofi-aventis. "sanofi pasteur's strong
industrial capabilities combined with a high-priority
pandemic influenza vaccine research program involving over
100 of our top scientists is enabling us to provide a
meaningful contribution to global pandemic
preparedness," added Mr. Dehecq.

    Since 1995, sales volume of sanofi pasteur's influenza
virus vaccines has more than tripled. To keep pace with the
world's growing immunisation needs, sanofi pasteur has made
significant capital investments in influenza vaccine
production capabilities in the United States and France in
order to reach current levels of more than 170 million
doses.

    In 2005, sanofi pasteur initiated a USD 160 million
investment in the United States for a new influenza vaccine
manufacturing facility, which is anticipated to double its
US production capacity. New production capacities are
planned to come online for the 2008/9 influenza season. A
EUR160 million investment, the largest capital investment
to date for sanofi pasteur in France, has also been
approved for a formulation and filling facility in sanofi
pasteur's Val de Reuil facility. The new
state-of-the-industry facility will boost sanofi pasteur
filling capabilities, thus significantly reducing time to
market for the vaccine.

    Seasonal Influenza Overview

    Influenza is a highly infectious virus that spreads
easily from person to person, primarily when an infected
individual coughs or sneezes. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), 5-15% of the population is affected with
upper respiratory tract infections in annual influenza
epidemics. Hospitalisation and deaths mainly occur in
high-risk groups (elderly, chronically ill (people with
chronic conditions/illness). Although difficult to assess,
these annual epidemics are thought to result in between
three and five million cases of severe illness and between
300 000 and 500 000 deaths every year around the world(1).
Most deaths currently associated with influenza in
industrialised countries occur among the elderly over 65
years of age.

    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 pre-existing immunity. This is why these pandemic
strains have such potential to cause severe morbidity and
mortality. According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), the next pandemic is likely to result in 1 to 2.3
million hospitalisations and 280,000 to 650,000 deaths in
industrialized nations alone. Its impact is expected to be
even more devastating in developing countries. In an
attempt to minimise the impact of a pandemic, many
countries are developing national and transnational plans
against an eventual influenza pandemic situation.

    For information about sanofi pasteur pandemic
preparedness program, please visit:
http://www.sanofipasteur.com/pandemicpreparedness/ 

    About sanofi-aventis

    The sanofi-aventis Group is the world's third-largest
pharmaceutical company, ranking number one in Europe.
Backed by a world-class R&D organisation,
sanofi-aventis is developing leading positions in seven
major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular disease,
thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous
system, internal medicine, and vaccines. The sanofi-aventis
Group is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York
(NYSE: SNY). For more information, please visit:
http://www.sanofi-aventis.com 

    sanofi pasteur, the vaccines business of the
sanofi-aventis Group, sold more than a billion doses of
vaccine in 2005, making it possible to protect more than
500 million people across the globe. The company offers the
broadest range of vaccines, providing protection against 20
bacterial and viral diseases. For more information, please
visit: http://www.sanofipasteur.com 

    Reference: 1.
http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/ari/en/print.html


    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements
as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are
not historical facts. These statements include financial
projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions,
statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with
respect to future events, operations, products and services,
and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking
statements are generally identified by the words
"expect," "anticipates,"
"believes," "intends,"
"estimates," "plans" and similar
expressions. Although sanofi-aventis' management believes
that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that
forward-looking information and statements are subject to
various risks and uncertainties, many of which are
difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of
sanofi-aventis, that could cause actual results and
developments to differ materially from those expressed in,
or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information
and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those
discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC
and the AMF made by sanofi-aventis, including those listed
under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in
sanofi-aventis' annual report on Form 20-F for the year
ended December 31, 2005. Other than as required by
applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
information or statements.


    For more information, please contact: 

     sanofi pasteur
     Pascal Barollier
     International Media Relations
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     sanofi pasteur
     Len Lavenda
     US Media Relations
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]


SOURCE  sanofi pasteur