Sanofi-Aventis (France) Establishes Research Collaboration With Harvard University

PARIS, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today a research collaboration with Harvard University. The goal of the collaboration is to advance knowledge in the area of human health through basic and applied research and to promote scientific exchange between Harvard University and sanofi-aventis. The focus of this collaboration is translational biomedical research in multiple therapeutic areas such as cancer, diabetes and inflammation.

“I’m delighted by the collaboration with sanofi-aventis, which joins together leaders in academic research and industry to more rapidly advance groundbreaking research from the lab to the clinic,” said Steven E. Hyman MD, Provost of Harvard University. “This collaboration exemplifies Harvard‘s commitment to creatively partner with industry in ways that we hope will push the boundaries of translational science, and advance our mandate of serving the public interest by making the fruits of our research available to society.”

The collaboration will support a number of activities over the term of the agreement through the granting of funding awards. Harvard University investigators will propose research projects across a wide range of areas. The funded projects will be selected by a Joint Scientific Steering Committee comprised of representatives of sanofi-aventis and Harvard, respectively. Projects will be awarded funding based on their scientific merit and potential to generate translational insight and value to biomedical research. These awards will provide Harvard researchers with focused, flexible and rapidly available financial support to enable research projects aimed at generating new knowledge and the development of innovative healthcare solutions in areas of high patient need. The collaboration provides sanofi-aventis the opportunity to develop diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic applications of discoveries made.

As part of the relationship with Harvard, sanofi-aventis will periodically evaluate technologies that may be of interest which are identified by Harvard‘s Office of Technology Development. To further this exchange of ideas, sanofi-aventis will host an annual scientific forum that will bring together sanofi-aventis and university researchers to share knowledge and opinions on relevant scientific matters and to review progress of research projects funded through the collaboration.

“Our relationship with Harvard underscores sanofi-aventis’ approach of leveraging our innovative internal resources while actively engaging a range of external partners to develop healthcare solutions,” said Marc Cluzel, M.D., PhD, Executive Vice-President, Research & Development, sanofi-aventis. “We are hopeful that promoting open scientific exchange between Harvard‘s leading biological researchers and sanofi-aventis’ drug development environment will drive significant healthcare advances. We are very excited about this collaboration.”

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, please visit www.sanofi-aventis.com.

About Harvard University‘s Office of Technology Development

The Harvard Office of Technology Development (OTD) is responsible for all activities pertaining to the evaluation, patenting and licensing of new inventions and discoveries made at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. OTD also serves to further the development of Harvard technologies through the establishment of sponsored research collaborations with industry. OTD’s mission is to promote the public good by fostering innovation and translating new inventions made at Harvard into useful products available and beneficial to society.

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 projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, 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 among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group’s ability to benefit from external growth opportunities as well as 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, 2009. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

SOURCE sanofi-aventis