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SWIFTWATER, Pa., August 11, 2004 -- Aventis (NYSE:AVE) today announced thesubmission of a Biologics Licensing Application (BLA) to the U.S curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) for marketing approval of Adacel (Tetanus Toxoid and ReducedDiphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed) for prevention oftetanus, diphtheria and pertussis in adolescents and adults aged 11 through64 years curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. The BLA for this candidate vaccine was submitted by Aventis Pasteur,the vaccines business of Aventis.

Reported cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, clearly areon the rise in the U.S curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. In 2002, 9,771 cases were reported to the U.S curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the highest number of such reportsin more than 30 years curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Preliminary counts of pertussis reports for 2003 exceed10,000, while reporting thus far in 2004 is at an even faster pace curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. However,it is estimated that only 12 percent of pertussis cases are actually reportedand that under-reporting may be greatest among adolescents and adults.

"Pertussis continues to be an important public health issue, in part becauseadolescents and adults may not even be aware that they have the disease andthat they can transmit it to vulnerable infants and younger children,"said David R curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Johnson, MD, MPH, director, scientific and medical affairs, AventisPasteur curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. "We've already had great success in the prevention of tetanusand diphtheria in the U.S curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. and believe that the introduction of a combinationvaccine that also protects against pertussis in adults and adolescents willhelp to counter ongoing transmission of this disease."

A vaccine is currently available to protect children against pertussis up to7 years of age curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. The diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine is generallyadministered in five doses between the ages of 2 months and 6 years of age curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. However, the vaccine does not offer lifelong protection against pertussis, andit is believed that immunity wanes by adolescence curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. While a tetanus and diphtheriabooster immunization is available starting at age 11, a pertussis booster isnot curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. The Adacel tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine will be referred toas a "Tdap" vaccine; the children's vaccine to prevent these samediseases is known as "DTaP." The pertussis components in Adacel vaccineare based on the acellular pertussis formulation in DAPTACEL(R), Diphtheriaand Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (DTaP vaccine),which was successfully introduced by Aventis Pasteur in the U.S curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. in 2002.

The regulatory submission for Adacel vaccine is based on results of clinicalstudies involving more than 7,200 clinical trial participants curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. The vaccine hasshown an excellent safety and immunogenicity profile curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Adacel vaccine is currentlyapproved and marketed in Canada and Germany.

Risk of Pertussis
Pertussis is a highly contagious, respiratory disease marked by severe coughing curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Its common name, whooping cough, comes from the "whoop" sound childrenand adults make when they try to inhale during or after a severe coughing spell curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. There are both severe and mild forms of pertussis curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Although pertussis can occurat any age, severe pertussis disease usually occurs in infants and young childrenwho are at higher risk for severe pertussis-related complications and even death curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. While adults may not experience the debilitating effects of the disease thatinfants do, infected adults can easily transmit the illness to unimmunized andpartially immunized infants and young children curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Additionally, older adults (morethan 55 years of age) may also be at considerable risk for death associatedwith pertussis.

Mild pertussis disease is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are notas distinctive; usually a prolonged cough is present, but without the "whoop."One reason for the incomplete identification of pertussis may be that diagnosisof the disease in adults and adolescents is sometimes difficult because symptomsare often atypical.

Although infants and young children may experience mild pertussis disease,it is more often associated with adolescents and adults curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Even in less severecases, infected adolescents and adults can easily transmit the illness to vulnerableinfants and young children who may experience complications associated withthe disease, such as pneumonia, encephalitis and pertussis- related seizures.

"While older patients are often spared the debilitating effects of thedisease, the fact that it may not be properly diagnosed and treated opens thedoor for spreading the disease," said Dr curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Johnson curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. "Increased outbreaksin this country are an all too common reminder that we need to bring this diseaseunder control."

About Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
Tetanus is a severe, frequently fatal disease caused by an exotoxin producedby bacteria (Clostridium tetani) curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. The disease, characterized by generalizedrigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles, causes paralysis, usuallystarts at the top of the body and works its way down curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. "Lockjaw," asthe disease is sometimes called, is often the first symptom, followed by stiffnessin the neck and difficulty swallowing curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Muscle spasms may occur frequently, lastingfor several minutes and persisting for up to a month curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Symptoms of tetanus canappear anywhere from three days to three weeks after exposure to the bacteriaand may be accompanied by fever, sweating, elevated blood pressure and rapidheartbeat curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. The bacteria that cause tetanus are widespread and are found in soiland in the intestinal tracts of animals and humans curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. It usually enters the bodythrough a wound or opening in the skin curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Virtually all of the cases of tetanusdisease occurring in the U.S curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. are in adults not up-to-date with booster vaccinations.

Diphtheria is a disease caused by exposure to airborne bacteria (Corynebacteriumdiphtheriae) from an infected person and usually affects the tonsils, throat,nose and/or skin curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. It is passed from person to person by droplet transmission,usually by breathing in diphtheria bacteria after an infected person has coughed,sneezed or even laughed curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. It can also be spread by handling used tissues or bydrinking from a glass used by an infected person curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Symptoms usually appear twoto five days after infection and begin very much like a common cold curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. However,symptoms can progress as a membrane grows and covers anywhere from a small patchto most of the throat, potentially blocking the airway curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. The infection releasesa toxin that can lead to heart failure and paralysis, and if enough toxin isabsorbed into the bloodstream, coma or even death can occur in as little asa week curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Diphtheria occurs rarely in this country, but is occasionally importedfrom countries where it is endemic curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Ongoing vaccination to protect against diphtheriacontinues to be recommended.

Pertussis, a highly contagious disease of the respiratory tract, is causedby exposure to bacteria (Bordetella pertussis) found in the mouth, nose andthroat of an infected person curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Pertussis is primarily spread by direct contactwith discharge from the nose or throat of infected individuals curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Classic, orsevere, pertussis, as defined by the World Health Organization, consists ofat least 21 days of cough illness (with the cough coming in spasms or paroxysms),associated whoops or post-cough vomiting, and culture confirmation curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Mild pertussisis any laboratory-confirmed pertussis disease that is less than classic disease.

Pertussis can occur at any age curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. More than half the cases occur in adolescentsand adults, while the majority of the remaining cases affect children under1 year of age curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. For young children, pertussis disease can result in significantmorbidity, hospitalization, serious long-term complications, and death.

About Aventis
Aventis is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by discovering and developinginnovative prescription drugs and human vaccines curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. In 2003, Aventis generatedsales of euro 16.79 billion, invested euro 2.86 billion in research and developmentand employed approximately 69,000 people in its core business curriculum parts of a computer and diagram. Aventis corporateheadquarters are in Strasbourg, France.

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