Sanofi Pasteur and the Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative Partner Against Dengue Fever

NEW- YORK, September 29 (ots/PRNewswire) - Sanofi Pasteur, the
vaccines business of sanofi-aventis, and the Pediatric Dengue Vaccine
Initiative (PDVI) announced today their partnership to help develop
and make a Dengue vaccine widely available for the global prevention
of Dengue fever, the second most widespread tropical disease after
malaria.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease affecting up to 100
million people every year, primarily children, resulting in 20,000
deaths from dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, the
most severe forms of the disease, according to estimates from the
World Health Organization (WHO)(1). Overall, the disease is a
potential threat for close to half the world's population.

"Incidence and disease burden of dengue are widely underestimated
due to lack of awareness, diagnostics and monitoring of the disease.
Our primary objective is to ensure rapid introduction of Dengue
vaccines into immunisations programs in all affected areas as soon as
a vaccine becomes available" said Harold Margolis, Director of the
PDVI. "

Dengue fever occurs mostly in tropical and subtropical countries.
It is spreading to new parts of the globe each year, with documented
cases of the disease in Northern Australia, the Middle East, and the
United States (Texas and Hawaii). A substantial number of people
traveling to endemic regions are also infected each year.

At the forefront of dengue vaccine development with an active
research and development program which started in the 1990s, Sanofi
Pasteur is currently evaluating its lead vaccine candidate in Latin
America and Asia in expanded clinical Phase II trials.

"Our goal is to make Dengue a vaccine preventable disease. This
partnership will help focus the attention of the immunisation
community on this debilitating disease that requires a strong
commitment from all health partners" concluded Dave Williams, Chief
Executive Officer of sanofi pasteur.

About the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the
Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative (PDVI)

The IVI is an international Organization established at the
initiative of the United Nations Development Programme under the
Vienna Convention of 1969 as amended. The IVI operates under a treaty
signed by 38 countries and the World Health Organization. It is
governed by an independent Board of Trustees. The Pediatric Dengue
Vaccine Initiative is a program of the International Vaccine
Institute funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the
Rockefeller Foundation and the government of the Republic of Korea.
The PDVI missions are to accelerate evaluation of candidate dengue
vaccines, to facilitate the introduction of new and improved
diagnostics and ultimately to help introduce safe and effective
vaccines in dengue endemic countries. For more information, please
visit: http://www.pdvi.org

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

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.

Reference

(1)State of the art of vaccine research and development.
WHO/IVB/06.01

Sanofi Pasteur
Alain Bernal
Vice-President Corporate Communications
Tel: + 33-(0)4-37-37-78-97
Fax: +33-(0)4-37-37-77 89
Sanofi Pasteur
Len Lavenda
U.S. 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, Alain Bernal, Vice-President Corporate
Communications,
Tel: + 33-4-37-37-78-97, Fax: +33-4-37-37-77 89. sanofi pasteur, Len
Lavenda, U.S. Media Relations, Tel: +1-570-839-4446,
Len.Lavenda@sanofipasteur.com