Sanofi Pasteur and International Vaccine Institute Partner Against Dengue

Lyon, France (ots/PRNewswire) - Sanofi Pasteur, the
vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group , announced today that it
is partnering with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to
support the recently launched Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI). Sanofi
Pasteur and the IVI will aim to raise awareness and to work to move
dengue vaccination higher on the global health agenda.

Currently, there is no specific treatment available for dengue
fever, which is a threat to nearly half of the world's population and
a public health priority in many countries of Latin America and Asia
where epidemics occur. Of the estimated 220 million people infected
annually, two million-mostly children-develop dengue hemorrhagic
fever (DHF), a severe form of the disease[1]. DHF is a leading cause
of hospitalization, placing tremendous pressure on strained medical
resources and having a heavy economic and societal impact.

"Each year, an estimated two million people with dengue
hemorrhagic fever require hospitalization representing a significant
burden on the fragile healthcare systems of developing and endemic
nations," said Dr. Ragnar Norrby, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of IVI. "With a dengue vaccine on the short term horizon, this
collaboration will focus on accelerating its adoption and
introduction and on making it accessible to those at highest risk of
dengue."

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) announced the launch of
the DVI on February 10, in collaboration with the Sabin Vaccine
Institute, the Johns Hopkins University, and the World Health
Organization, to support development of vaccines to control dengue
fever.

"The fight against dengue requires a strong global commitment
from all public health partners. The first dengue vaccine is now in
the final stages of development. The IVI will be a key player in
facilitating discussions among policy makers, with the objective of
ensuring that once licensed the vaccine will be made available to
those populations that need it most in a timely manner," stated
Olivier Charmeil, Senior Vice President, sanofi-aventis, Vaccines.

About International Vaccine Institute

The International Vaccine Institute is an international
organization devoted exclusively to developing and introducing new
and improved vaccines for the world's poorest people, especially
children in developing countries. The IVI conducts research in 30
countries in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America on vaccines
against diarrheal infections, bacterial meningitis and pneumonia,
Japanese encephalitis, and dengue fever, and develops new and
improved vaccines, delivery routes and adjuvants at its headquarters
in Seoul, Korea.

About Dengue Vaccine Initiative

The Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI) was established in 2010 to
build on the work of the Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative and to
further awareness of the need to support the development and use of
dengue vaccines. The goal of the DVI is to accelerate the
introduction of safe and broadly protective vaccines into the
national immunization programs of endemic and developing countries.
DVI works with scientists, vaccine experts and policy makers from
concept to implementation, promoting the development of dengue
vaccines while also advocating with governments worldwide to ensure
the swift adoption and distribution of a vaccine to those most in
need.

Sanofi Pasteur's global dengue vaccine clinical study program

Sanofi Pasteur's candidate dengue vaccine-which targets all four
virus serotypes- is in Phase 3 clinical study. Phase 3 studies are
the ultimate steps in the clinical development of a vaccine before it
is submitted to regulatory authorities for evaluation for market
authorization. Sanofi Pasteur candidate dengue vaccine has been
evaluated in clinical studies (Phase 1, 2) in adults and children in
the U.S., Asia and Latin America. Overall, a balanced immune response
against all four serotypes was observed after three doses of the
vaccine. The vaccine is well tolerated with a similar safety profile
after each dose.[2]

Clinical studies in adults and children are ongoing in Mexico,
Colombia, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Peru, the Philippines, Vietnam,
Singapore, Australia, and Thailand.

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 and in New
York . For more information, please visit:
http://www.sanofi-aventis.com

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group,
provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, 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 EUR 1 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 projections and estimates and their
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intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results,
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reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable,
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differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected
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uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent
in research and development, future clinical data and analysis,
including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such
as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any
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potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that
the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful,
the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic
alternatives, the Group's ability to benefit from external growth
opportunities as well as 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, 2009. 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] PDVI Newsletter No. 7, April 2010 accessible at
http://www.pdvi.org/PDFs/newsletters/PDVInewsletter7.pdf

[2] Saville et al, Clinical development of a tetravalent dengue
vaccine for endemic areas, ICID Miami, March 2010; Lang et al, Toward
a tetravalent dengue vaccine in Brazil, Tropical Medicine meeting,
Iguacu Falls, March 2010

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Contact:
Contacts, Global Media Relations, Pascal Barollier,
T.+33-(0)4-37-37-50-38,
pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.comhttp://www.sanofipasteur.com