Sanofi-aventis Strengthens Commitment to Research in France through Partnership with AVIESAN

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Paris, France – February 17, 2010 – Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today the signing of a research partnership with AVIESAN (the French Life Sciences and Healthcare Alliance), comprised of the CEA, CNRS, INRA, INRIA, Inserm, Institut Pasteur, IRD, Conference of University Presidents and Conference of regional and university hospital CEOs. This is the first time such a partnership has been signed with all the players of the academic research community in the field of healthcare in France.

The aim of the research partnership with AVIESAN is to enhance scientific knowledge in the areas of life sciences and healthcare, to contribute to the excellence and strength of French research and to develop ambitious projects benefiting patients, in research areas like ageing, immuno-inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases and regenerative medicine. To encourage creativity, mutual teams, laboratories, technological platforms and even research centres for sanofi-aventis and AVIESAN could be considered.

Sanofi-aventis also has entered into a corporate sponsorship agreement for the CNRS and INSERM ATIP AVENIR sponsorship programme to support young researchers who wish to set up their research laboratory in France. Sanofi-aventis will therefore support, on the basis of an annual allowance, the programme’s laureates, to foster a spirit of collaboration and exchange between public and pharmaceutical industry researchers.

These agreements are part of the goal set by the Strategic Committee for Healthcare Industries (CSIS) to bolster funding for partnerships between manufacturers and academic research laboratories in order to encourage innovation in healthcare. Sanofi-aventis has promised to make a significant contribution to achieving this ambitious goal by investing as much as 50 million Euros into these partnerships over five years.

“We are very pleased to have entered into this partnership with the National Alliance for Life Sciences and Healthcare, which is a major breakthrough in terms of public-private partnerships in France,” said Christopher A. Viehbacher, CEO of sanofi-aventis. “By pooling the creativity and expertise of a multitude of world-renowned researchers, we are sure that this fruitful collaboration will boost innovation in life sciences in France, and ultimately lead to major discoveries that will benefit patients. Through this agreement, sanofi-aventis confirms once again its commitment to developing research and innovation in France.”

“We are delighted to have established this global partnership with sanofi-aventis, a world leader in healthcare,” said Pr. André Syrota, Chairman of AVIESAN. “This partnership, effective today with a leading actor at the forefront of life sciences, should enable us to better showcase French research abroad. We are very pleased to stand side-by-side with sanofi-aventis to conduct research from fundamental science to patient application.”

For further information:

- About the AVIESAN (National Alliance for Life Sciences and Healthcare)
The National Alliance for Life Sciences and Healthcare (AVIESAN) is comprised of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), the National Institute for Computer Science and Control (INRIA), the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the Institut Pasteur, the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), the Conference of University Presidents (CPU) and the Conference of regional and university hospital CEOs. The goal of AVIESAN is to develop, to the highest level in all life sciences and healthcare research areas, a continuum spanning from fundamental research to application. The National Alliance for Life Sciences and Healthcare is organised into 10 multi-bodied subject-based institutes to coordinate research, and one of their chief roles is to appraise French research according to broad subject areas.

- About ATIP AVENIR
The ATIP AVENIR sponsorship programme (ATIP: Action Thématique et Incitative sur Programme) is part of a partnership between CNRS and INSERM. Each year, CNRS and INSERM launch a joint call for proposals to enable young scientists who have defended their PhD (or equivalent doctoral degree) within the last 10 years, whatever their position and nationality, to create and lead a team within a CNRS or Inserm structure.

- 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). For more information, visit: www.sanofi-aventis.com

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects,” “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 sanofiaventis, 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 among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group’s ability to benefit from external growth opportunities as well as 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, 2008. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

Media Contacts
For sanofi-aventis: Jean-Marc Podvin (Tel.: +33 1 53 77 42 23)
For AVIESAN : Priscille Rivière (Tel.: +33 1 44 23 60 97)