Sanofi-aventis Announces 2007 Earnings Ahead of Guidance Sharp Rise in Propose...(for details of selected items. (5) ...),Health

Research and Development

Our R&D teams have made progress on the key objectives announced at the R&D Day in September 2007.

During 2007, 21 compounds moved into the development phase of which 16 in pharma. In 2007, sanofi-aventis filed submissions for the first-ever intradermic influenza vaccine and for Aquilda(R) (Satavaptan), a treatment for hyponatremia. The ongoing efforts to broaden access to Menactra(R) led to the granting of FDA approval in 2007 for the 2-10 age bracket.

A major collaboration agreement was signed with Regeneron, covering the discovery and development of human monoclonal antibodies, with the objective of bringing at least two compounds into development every year. Under this agreement, an antibody against the Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) has already started clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis. It is due to be followed by an antibody against Delta-like ligand-4 (Dll4), scheduled to start clinical development in 2008 in oncology.

A number of other collaboration agreements have been signed in the field of vaccines, including those with Acambis (to develop vaccines against Japanese encephalitis and West Nile virus), with SSI (to develop a new tuberculosis vaccine) and with Crucell (in monoclonal rabies antibodies), plus an alliance with the Institut Pasteur in malaria.

Progress to date on our ongoing clinical development suggests that we remain on track for our forecast of around 30 potential filings by end 2010.

The main developments in our R&D portfolio are described below:

Metabolic disorders

Results from phase IIb trials on AVE5530, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, showed a significant reduction in LDL at different doses, confirming the potential benefits of this product. Its non-systemic mode of action opens up the possibility of avoiding dru
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