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.comContact:
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