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COMPANY ANNOUNCES PROGRESS IN HELPING PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS

February 5, 2007

Sanofi-aventis and the International Union Against Cancer have released an update on the progress of their "My Child Matters Programme," started in 2004 to advance the fight against childhood cancers in developing countries. The initiative so far has funded 26 projects in countries such as Egypt, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Tanzania.

Although childhood cancers represent a small percentage of all cancers, the gap in the survival rate between industrialized and developing countries is significant, according to sanofi-aventis. Also, 80 percent of children with cancer live in developing countries.

Most childhood cancers can be cured provided they are detected early and treated effectively, according to the drugmaker. The program encourages access to care and treatment, as well as pain management. So far, 4,000 children have benefited from the program.

"One of the essential roles of a company like ours is to identify new avenues for research and to make innovative and effective treatment available to patients," Jean-François Dehecq, chairman of sanofi-aventis, said.