NEW STUDY SHOWS AN INNOVATIVE MEALTIME INSULIN DOSING ALGORITHM MAY PROVIDE A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO CARBOHYDRATE COUNTING FOR PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Contact : Anna Radjanova: +33 6 07 28 61 63 Type 2 Diabetes Patients Using a New Insulin Dosing Strategy Achieved a Mean A1C of 6.6% after 24 Weeks of Combination Therapy with Rapid-Acting Apidra® (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin] injection) and 24-hour Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection). Paris, France, – June 10, 2006 – Results from a new study presented at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 66th Annual Scientific Sessions found that a simple algorithm to adjust mealtime insulin based on pre-meal glucose patterns is just as effective as the more complex carbohydrate counting method – a standard technique that many diabetes patients find difficult to use. The new algorithm may provide patients with an easier method to dose their mealtime insulin therapy. After 24 weeks of combination therapy with rapid-acting Apidra® and 24-hour Lantus®, patients using both the new mealtime dosing algorithm and the traditional carbohydrate counting method were able to achieve mean A1C levels of 6.6% (p less than 0.0001), helping the majority of patients achieve the ADA’s recommended blood sugar control target of A1C less than 7%.1 Additionally, the rate of symptomatic hypoglycemia (blood glucose less than 50 mg/dl) was lower in the group that used the new algorithm (4.9 vs 8.0 events/patient year, p = 0.02). “This new dosing approach relies on a simple algorithm that allows patients to start with a fixed dose of mealtime glulisine and then adjust to target based on premeal glucose patterns. This is an easy way to dose and adjust mealtime insulin that should meet the needs of many patients who are not prepared to undertake the equally effective but more complex carbohydrate counting method,” explained study author Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, executive director, International Diabetes Center, Park Nicollet Health Services, Minneapolis, MN. “Also, the A1C reductions seen in this study help further demonstrate that good glycemic control is possible and often associated with basal:bolus regimens. Basal:bolus regimens like the glulisine/glargine combination used in this trial simulate the normal physiologic insulin response that occurs in people without diabetes and there are many people with type 2 diabetes who would benefit from such a regimen.” About the Study Two hundred and seventy-three subjects participated in this open-label, multicenter, randomized, 24-week study. The study compared the change in glycemic control, as measured by Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from baseline to study week 24; in subjects receiving glulisine as mealtime insulin following a variable bolus insulin regimen (based on carbohydrate counting) vs a fixed bolus insulin regimen; with glargine as basal insulin in both arms of the study. All participants had a confirmed type 2 diabetes diagnosis with the disease uncontrolled on two or more insulin injections per day. All participants were switched to basal / bolus therapy with once-daily glargine titrated to fasting blood glucose less than 95mg/dL and premeal glulisine to targets of less than 100 mg/dL pre- lunch/dinner and 130 mg/dL at bedtime ± metformin. Premeal glulisine was adjusted weekly. One group used a simple algorithm to add 1, 2 or 3U based on premeal glucose patterns. The other group, which used carbohydrate counting, adjusted dose based on the I:C ratio. Study Results At the end of the 24-week period, A1C was significantly reduced in both arms (p less than 0.0001) from an initial 8.2% to a final 6.6% with no difference (-1.46% vs -1.59%, p = 0.24) between the algorithm and carbohydrate counting groups, respectively. The algorithm group received significantly higher doses of glulisine (110.2 vs 94.3U, p = 0.04) and glargine (103.4 vs 87.0U, p = 0.0001) and had significantly less symptomatic hypoglycemia less than 50 mg/dL (4.9 vs 8.0 events/patient year, p = 0.02) than the carbohydrate counting group. No differences were observed for the proportion of participants achieving A1C less than 7% (73.0% vs 69.2%, p=0.7) or weight gain (3.7 vs 2.4 kg, p=0.06), for the algorithm and carbohydrate counting groups, respectively. Both groups concluded the study with a basal:bolus ratio of 50:50 and used 1.8-2 U/kg of insulin/day. Adverse events in each group were similar and included infection, gastrointestinal disorders and nervous system-related events. About Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic, widespread condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to convert glucose (sugar) into energy. It is estimated that more than 20 million Americans have diabetes, including 6.2 million who remain undiagnosed. At the same time, approximately half of those diagnosed are not achieving the general blood sugar control standard of A1C less than 7% recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The A1C test measures blood glucose levels over a two- to three-month period. About Apidra® Apidra® is a new, rapid-acting insulin analog for adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes for the control of hyperglycemia. Apidra® offers patients mealtime dosing flexibility—it can be taken within 15 minutes before or within 20 minutes after starting a meal. Apidra® is also flexible for use in patients with a variety of body types, from lean to obese. Nearly 9 out of 10 people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight, and for patients that require insulin therapy, this presents an additional challenge, as being overweight can affect the speed at which insulin is absorbed by the body. However, in clinical studies, Apidra® was found to have a faster onset of action than an older mealtime insulin when it was given to patients with lean to obese body types. About Lantus® Lantus®, the number one prescribed insulin in the U.S., is the first and only once-daily, 24-hour basal insulin analog with no pronounced peak. Most insulins have what is called a “peak of action.” The peak refers to the time at which insulin reaches its maximum effect in the body. Since Lantus® has no pronounced peak, the insulin is released into the bloodstream at a relatively constant rate throughout the day and night. About sanofi-aventis Sanofi-aventis is the world’s third largest pharmaceutical company, ranking number one in Europe. Backed by a world-class R&D organization, sanofi-aventis is developing leading positions in seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous system, internal medicine, and vaccines. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 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 “expect,” “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, 2005. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.