Sanofi Pasteur Enters Agreement With Crucell for Next-Generation Biologicals Against Rabies

Lyon, France (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Exclusive Agreement for Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies to Fight
Fatal Disease

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group,
announced today that it has signed an exclusive collaboration and
commercialization agreement with Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ:
CRXL) for Crucell's rabies monoclonal antibodies (MAbs),
next-generation rabies biologicals to be used in association with
rabies vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis against this fatal
disease.

Rabies causes 55,000 deaths worldwide annually, mostly in rural
areas of Asia and Africa(1). Today there is no treatment for rabies
once symptoms of the disease have appeared. Post exposure prophylaxis
for severe bites requires both active immunization, using vaccines
such as those currently marketed by sanofi pasteur, and passive
immunization in the form of rabies immunoglobulins (RIG). Rabies
monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are expected to be an innovative and
potent alternative to currently used RIGs.

In the last 20 years, over 20 million people in 100 countries
have been treated with sanofi pasteur's rabies products.

"Sanofi pasteur is the global leader in providing rabies vaccine
and immunoglobulin, and the only international company to offer a
full range of rabies biologicals. Adding a next generation rabies
treatment to our well-established rabies product range will further
position the company as a leading force to help prevent this fatal
disease," said Wayne Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Sanofi Pasteur. "Louis Pasteur's first human rabies immunization in
1885 was a founding milestone for modern vaccination and we are proud
to build on his legacy with innovative treatments."

Crucell has developed a combination of two rabies MAbs that has
shown favorable results comparable to current immunoglobulin products
in preclinical trials. Phase I clinical trials demonstrated that the
MAb-based product is well tolerated, provides the expected immediate
passive neutralizing activity, and that it can be safely administered
in combination with a rabies vaccine without interfering with the
vaccine's ability to induce an active immunity.

Under the terms of the agreement, Crucell will continue to perform
the development activities and will manufacture the final product.
Crucell will receive a payment of EUR 10 million following the
execution of the agreement and would be eligible for milestone
payments of up to EUR 66.5 million.

About rabies:

Rabies is an acute viral encephalitis transmitted from animal to
animal or from animal to human by exposure to saliva. Virus in saliva
attaches to peripheral nerve endings and progresses to the brain. All
mammalian species are believed to be susceptible. Dogs are a major
reservoir of human rabies. They are responsible for most incidences
of bites.

Rabies vaccination by Louis Pasteur was an important step in the
history of vaccine when, in 1885, Joseph Meister, who had been bitten
by a rabid dog, was successfully treated by successive inoculations
during a 10-day period.

About sanofi-aventis

Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company,
discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve
the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT:
SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group,
provided more than a billion doses of vaccine in 2006, making it
possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A
world leader in the vaccine industry, sanofi pasteur offers the
broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases.
The Company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates
back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company
entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more
than EUR1 million in research and development. For more information,
please visit: http://www.sanofipasteur.com or
http://www.sanofipasteur.us

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
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, intentions 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 "expects," "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, 2006. Other than as required by applicable
law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking information or statements.

(1) WHO Rabies Fact Sheet No 99 Revised September 2006 available
at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/

Sanofi Pasteur
Pascal Barollier
Media Relations
Tel: +33-(0)4-37-37-51-41
pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com
Len Lavenda
Media Relations US
Tel: +1-570-839-4446
len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com

ots Originaltext: sanofi-aventis Group
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

$story.getcontactHeadline()
Sanofi Pasteur: Pascal Barollier, Media Relations, Tel:
+33-(0)4-37-37-51-41, pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com. Len
Lavenda, Media Relations US, Tel: +1-570-839-4446,
len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com


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