• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Sanofi Pasteur Donates 200,000 Doses of Fluzone(R), Influenza Virus Vaccine to Support Government's Hurricane Relief Efforts

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 September 2005, 12:00 CDT

SWIFTWATER, Pa., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sanofi pasteur, the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis Group, is donating 200,000 doses of Fluzone(R), influenza virus vaccine to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation to support efforts to help reduce the risk of influenza, its related complications among at-risk individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The donated vaccine has a market value of approximately $2 million.

In addition, the company is donating large quantities of its DECAVAC(TM) (Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed For Adult Use) for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

"Sanofi pasteur's timely donation of influenza and tetanus-diphtheria vaccine doses will help address some of the most important public health needs that have arisen due to the evacuation of the gulf coast region," said CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H. "Influenza is a highly contagious infection that can lead to serious complications and even death, particularly for at-risk populations in crowded group settings. Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine plays an important role in protecting anyone exposed to open wounds."

"We are pleased that sanofi pasteur has partnered with the CDC Foundation and CDC to meet one of the critical public health needs of the communities affected by Hurricane Katrina," says Charles Stokes, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation.

The CDC has issued interim immunization recommendations for individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina and emergency responders, available at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/. The CDC is working closely with sanofi pasteur, as well as with state and local health departments, to assess and support immunization needs of displaced individuals as well as first- responders and health care workers engaged in relief activities.

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 organization, 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 .

Sanofi pasteur, the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis Group, sold nearly a billion doses of vaccine in 2004, making it possible to protect more than 500 million people across the globe, which is about 1.4 million per day. The company offers the broadest range of vaccines, providing protection against 20 bacterial and viral diseases. For more information, please visit: http://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 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, 2004. 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-aventis Group subsidiaries in the United States include Sanofi- Synthelabo Inc., Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi Pasteur Inc.

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

sanofi pasteur

CONTACT: Alain Bernal, Vice-President Corporate Communications,+33-4-37-37-78-97, Fax: +33-4-37-37-77-89, or Len Lavenda, U.S. MediaRelations, +1-570-839-4446, Len.Lavenda@sanofipasteur.com, both of sanofipasteur

Web site: http://www.sanofipasteur.com/http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

More News in this Category