Russia Chooses Inactivated Polio Vaccine from Sanofi Pasteur for Primary Immunization of all Infants

Paris, November 12 (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Sanofi Pasteur and Chumakov Institute Russian Academy Medical
Sciences Providers of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) IMOVAX PolioTM
for Russia National "Project Health"

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group,
announced today that Russia has chosen inactivated polio vaccine
(IPV) from Sanofi Pasteur for primary immunization of all infants.
The IPV doses are provided by M.P. Chumakov Institute of
Poliomyelitis and Virus Encephalitides through a manufacturing
agreement with Sanofi Pasteur.

IPV vaccination started in the summer of 2008 as part of Russia
National "Project Health." Four-million doses of IPV IMOVAX PolioTM
have been delivered to date, ensuring that a complete birth cohort
(approximately 1.3 million babies are born every year in Russia) can
receive the recommended three doses of IPV vaccine.

"The Chumakov Institute was the first to produce oral polio
vaccine which was instrumental in eradicating poliomyelitis in
Russia," said Academician Sergey Drosdov, Senior Scientific Advisor
of M.P. Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides
Russian Academy Medical Sciences. "Today, IPV is the vaccine of
choice for post-eradication polio immunization programs and the
Institute is proud to bring this vaccine to Russian children."

The Russian Federation was certified polio-free in 2002. Since
2006, children from certain at risk groups are vaccinated with IPV.
Starting mid 2008, all children less than one year of age are
vaccinated following a sequential schedule: three doses of IPV for
primary immunization, followed by two doses of oral polio vaccine
(OPV).

"Every year in Russia, over 1.3 million children will be
vaccinated with IPV and will benefit from its enhanced safety
profile," said Dr. Vladimir Tatochenko, Professor of pediatrics, Head
of Diagnostic Department of Scientific Center of Children Health,
Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. "IPV fits perfectly with the
Russian childhood immunization calendar. DTP (diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis) vaccine and IPV will be administered during the same
pediatrician visit. The existing high DTP vaccination coverage will
ensure the success of IPV vaccination."

Over 50 polio-free countries are using IPV

An increasing number of polio-free countries are using IPV for
their national immunization programs which is becoming the
international health standard of care for polio vaccination. In 2007,
Mexico was the first Latin American country to choose IPV in a
national immunization program with sanofi pasteur's IPV containing
pediatric combination vaccine, Pentaxim(R) (Diphtheria, tetanus,
acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine, Haemophilus
influenzae type b conjugate vaccine). Turkey also chose to include
Pentaxim(R) in its national immunization program.

In Indonesia the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting a
pilot program to evaluate the switch from OPV to IPV in a tropical
setting, for which sanofi pasteur is donating 1.5 million doses of
IPV over 5 years.

Committed to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative for 20 years

Sanofi Pasteur has been a partner of the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative since its founding by WHO in 1988.

- Since 1988, Sanofi Pasteur has been a leading provider of
OPV, supplying over 600 million vaccine doses in 2007, helping to
reduce the number of polio cases by 99% with an estimated five million
people escaping paralysis(1).
- Between 1997 and 2005 Sanofi Pasteur donated over 120 million doses of
oral polio vaccine to help eradicate polio in Africa (Nigeria is the
only remaining endemic country in Africa).
- In 2005, Sanofi Pasteur developed a novel monovalent Oral Polio Vaccine
type 1 or mOPV1 following urgent requests from the WHO. Fifty million
doses of mOPV 1 were used for the polio eradication campaign in Egypt.
As a result, Egypt was declared polio-free by the WHO in February 2006.

About M.P. Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral
Encephalitides

The Institute of Poliomyelitis Research was established in 1955
by Michael Chumakov who became its first Director.

In 1960, the Institute included several laboratories and research
departments from other research organizations and became Institute of
Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides.

Inactivated polio Salk vaccine has been produced in the Institute
from 1956 to 1958, and since 1959 live attenuated polio vaccine
administered orally (OPV) manufactured by the Institute has been used
for mass vaccination campaigns.

Production technology of oral polio vaccine created in the
Institute was the first to be certified by WHO for production and
control of polio vaccines.

In the 1980's, new inactivated vaccine against tick-born
encephalitis was developed by the Institute.

Now scientists are working on creation of human gamma
immunoglobulin by new hybrid technology.

Vaccines against rabies and hepatitis A were also developed in
research laboratories of M.P. Chumakov Institute and other Russian
manufacturers produce those vaccines for mass vaccination.

The Institute has an exclusive advantage of close coordination
between research and industrial operations. Scientists are involved
in creating new vaccines and also new technologies for mass
production.

The research department of M. P. Chumakov Institute includes 18
laboratories with 91 research scientists, including four
academicians. The Institute produces live polio vaccine, vaccine
against tick-born encephalitis, rabies, yellow fever, and measles.

About poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a
virus that invades the nervous system and can cause severe paralysis.
The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the
intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting,
stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections
leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those
paralyzed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.
Polio mainly affects children under five years of age. In 1994, the
Region of the Americas was certified polio-free by the World Health
Organization, followed by the Western Pacific Region in 2000 and the
European Region in 2002; worldwide efforts are continuing towards
global eradication of this contagious and devastating disease.

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 1.6 billion doses of vaccine in 2007, 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

IMOVAX PolioTM is a trademark of Sanofi Pasteur.

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year ended December 31, 2007. 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) World Health Organization, Fact sheet 288 Immunization
against diseases of public health importance

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs288/en/index.html

http://www.sanofipasteur.com

http://www.sanofipasteur.us

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Contact:
Global Media Relations: Pascal Barollier, T. +33-(0)4-37-37-50-38,
pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com; US Media Relations: Len Lavenda,
T. +1-570-957-4446, len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com