Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT : SAN and NYSE : SNY), announced that Shantha Biotechnics was awarded contracts by a United Nations agency for supplies of pentavalent vaccine SHAN5™ (combination vaccine of Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Haemophilus influenza B, and Hepatitis B). The contracts, worth $340 million, cover the period 2010-2012.

These new contracts illustrate Sanofi Pasteur's public health's mission and strategy to develop Shantha as a platform to address the need for high-quality affordable vaccination in international markets. Sanofi Pasteur, through its existing and new contracts, now provides a full range of vaccines used within the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Commenting on the contracts, Wayne Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi Pasteur, said: "These awarded contracts underline Shantha Biotechnics' high expertise and the quality of their state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. While Shantha Biotechnics is joining the sanofi-aventis Group, those contracts perfectly illustrate our ambition to provide the best vaccines at affordable prices to many people around the world."

Shantha is based in Hyderabad, India. Shantha develops, manufactures and markets several important vaccines. It operates at international standards in a state-of-the-art facility. Control of Shantha by Sanofi Pasteur is effective as of August 31, 2009 through the acquisition of Mérieux Alliance's French subsidiary ShanH, which owns a majority stake in Shantha.

Shantha works with supranational organizations to supply major international markets including Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. In 1997, Shantha launched SHANVAC-B™, the first recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine produced in India. SHANVAC-B™, SHANTETRA™ (combination vaccine of Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, and Hepatitis B), SHAN5™ (combination vaccine of Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Haemophilus influenza B, and Hepatitis B) and SHANTT™ (Tetanus toxoid vaccine) are prequalified by WHO for supplying to U.N. agencies globally. Shantha also has an important portfolio of vaccines in development.

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).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, provided more than 1.6 billion doses of vaccine in 2008, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us.