Aventis and US NIH Enter Into Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Agreement

Main Category: Allergy
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 27 May 2004 - 20:00 PDT


Aventis has entered into an agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), to produce an investigational influenza vaccine based on a potential pandemic virus strain.

Aventis Pasteur, the human vaccines business of Aventis, has agreed to produce 8000 doses based on two pilot lots of vaccine containing an H5N1 influenza virus strain - the so-called avian strain - that circulated in Southeast Asia late last year.

"Last year's outbreak of avian influenza served as a stark reminder that an influenza pandemic remains a real threat," said David J. Williams, chairman and chief executive officer of Aventis Pasteur. "As the world's largest producer of influenza vaccine, it is important for us to partner with the government to expand our knowledge of how to prepare a safe and effective vaccine in as short a timeframe as possible. This important project will help us gain that experience." Williams said he hoped to identify additional opportunities for working with governments around the world on related initiatives.

Production will take place at Aventis Pasteur's facility in Swiftwater, PA. The vaccine will be manufactured according to NIAID specifications. Clinical trials for the vaccine will be conducted by the NIH under an investigational new drug application issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to the NIAID.

Influenza epidemics occur every year and result in an annual average of 36,000 deaths in the United States, mostly among chronically ill persons and seniors, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An influenza pandemic is a global epidemic of an especially virulent virus with the potential for severe morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization, the next pandemic is likely to result in 1 to 2.3 million hospitalizations and 280,000 to 650,000 deaths in industrialized nations. Its impact will most likely be even more devastating in developing countries.

About Aventis

Aventis is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by discovering and developing innovative prescription drugs and human vaccines. In 2003, Aventis generated sales of euro 16.79 billion, invested euro 2.86 billion in research and development and employed approximately 69,000 people in its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France. For more information, please visit: www.aventis.com.

Aventis Pasteur, the vaccines business of Aventis, produced 1.4 billion doses of vaccine in 2003, making it possible to protect 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: www.aventispasteur.com.

Statements in this document containing projections or estimates of revenues, income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, capital structure, or other financial items; plans and objectives relating to future operations, products, or services; future economic performance; or assumptions underlying or relating to any such statements, are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially depending on factors such as the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the results of clinical trials, the company's relative success developing and gaining market acceptance for new products, the outcome of significant litigation, and the effectiveness of patent protection. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties is set forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the current Annual Report -- "Document de Reference" -- on file with the "Autorite des marches financiers" in France.

This project is funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHSN266200400031E.

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