Press releases and press packs are intended to journalists, investors and shareholders.
Paris, France - November 27, 2009
Sanofi-aventis confirms its intent to reinforce its presence in the Russian Federation via the “Pharmpolis Project”
Signing to take place at the Franco-Russian Intergovernmental Seminar.
Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today the signing of
a Memorandum of Understanding with Prominvest, a fully
owned subsidiary of the Russian State Corporation Rostekhnologii,
confirming its intent to participate in the “Pharmpolis Project” using the new
modern sanofi-aventis insulin factory located in Russia as a pilot initiative.
The document was signed by Mikhail Shelkov, General Director
of LLC Prominvest and Christopher A. Viehbacher, Chief Executive
Officer of sanofi-aventis, during the Franco-Russian Intergovernmental Seminar
held in the Castle of Rambouillet, France, in the presence of Vladimir
Putin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, and François
Fillon, Prime Minister of France.
The “Pharmpolis Project” is part of the overall effort
of the Russian Government to localize innovative drug manufacturers in Russia,
to attract high technology platforms and to provide manufacturers with sufficient
resources, effective business environment and proper supplier network to foster
the expansion of the pharmaceutical market.
“Today represents an important milestone for sanofi-aventis in its commitment
and collaboration with the Russian Federation,” declared Christopher A.
Viehbacher, Chief Executive Officer of sanofi-aventis. “We want to create
a situation in which patients suffering from severe conditions, such as diabetes,
are diagnosed and treated as early as possible and have access to innovative
drugs at affordable prices. The manufacturing of insulin locally will be a major
step towards achieving this goal.”
“Diabetes is one of the Russian Federation’s three major public health
priorities, with high mortality rates and affecting 2.5 million diagnosed Type
2 diabetes patients, according to the Russian National Diabetes Registry,”
declared S.V. Chemezov, General Director of the State Corporation Rostekhnologii.
“If undiagnosed cases are taken into account, this figure is estimated to
be around 10 million people. Our aim is to fully satisfy Russia’s market demand
for insulin and to do all our best to fight against such dangerous and socially
important disease, as diabetes”.
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 financial
projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding
plans, objectives, intentions 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 “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 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, 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.
