April 15, 2007

FDA Approves Allegra(R) (fexofenadine Hydrochloride) Oral Suspension For Treatment Of Seasonal Allergy Symptoms And Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

Sanofi-aventis U.S. (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Allegra(R) (fexofenadine hydrochloride) Oral Suspension for the twice-daily treatment of symptoms associated with seasonal allergies in pediatric patients, 2 to 11 years of age, and for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria in children 6 months to 11 years of age. This approval makes available a safe and effective seasonal allergy treatment option that is non-impairing to pediatric populations as young as 2 years old.

"Until now, parents had few seasonal antihistamine treatment options that were not associated with cognitively impairing adverse side effects," says Eli Meltzer, M.D., of the Allergy and Asthma Medical Group and Research Center in San Diego. "However, with Allegra Oral Suspension, which does not cause sedation at any dose and is well-established for its antihistamine activity, a medication is now available in a good tasting, easy-to-swallow formulation that can help reduce the seasonal allergy symptoms of children."

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is a common chronic condition in children. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include nasal drainage, sneezing, watery eyes and itchy nose, eyes and throat. Studies indicate that seasonal allergy inflammation as well as the impairing side effects of older antihistamines can be disruptive to a child and may affect cognitive skills and function.

Allegra Oral Suspension has also been approved for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) in twice-daily 30 mg doses for pediatric patients 2 to 11 years of age and twice-daily 15 mg doses for pediatric patients 6 months to 2 years of age. CIU is a rare and bothersome condition characterized by hives lasting more than 6 weeks from an unknown cause. Its symptoms are caused by a reaction to an unknown trigger in the upper layers of the skin. The condition itself may cause severe itching, but is made worse by scratching.

Allegra Oral Suspension will have a berry flavor* and is expected to be available to consumers in time for the 2007 spring allergy season.

Artificial raspberry-cream flavoring

Important Safety Information

Side effects in children 6 months to 5 years old were similar to placebo. Side effects varied by age. The most commonly reported side effects were: vomiting, pyrexia, cough, otitis media and diarrhea.

Please see full prescribing information for Allegra Oral Suspension at http://products.sanofi-aventis.us/allegra_oral/allegra.pdf.

About sanofi-aventis

Sanofi-aventis 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, thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous system, internal medicine, and vaccines. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY)

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-aventis
http://www.sanofi-aventis.com

No comments: