sanofi pasteur Influenza Vaccine Production Tops 170 Million Doses in 2006

Lyon, France and Swiftwater, Pennsylvania (ots/PRNewswire) -

- 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

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-François 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: 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: 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:
www.sanofipasteur.com

Reference: 1.
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.

sanofi pasteur
Pascal Barollier
International Media Relations
Tel: +33-4-37-37-51-41
pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com
sanofi pasteur
Len Lavenda
US Media Relations
Tel: +1-570-839-4446
len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com

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

Contact:
sanofi pasteur, Pascal Barollier, International Media Relations, Tel:
+33-4-37-37-51-41, pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com. sanofi
Pasteur, Len Lavenda, US Media Relations, Tel: +1-570-839-4446,
len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com


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