Sanofi Pasteur to add 2D barcode to six more vaccines

SWIFTWATER, Pa., July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN andNYSE: SNY), announced today it will transition six more products of its pediatric vaccine portfolio to two-dimensional (2D) barcoding technology by the beginning of 2013.

Below is the schedule for the roll out of the vaccines that will feature the 2D barcode:

• Q3, 2012: Adacel^® (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed) vaccine

Fluzone^® (Influenza Virus Vaccine) unit-dose vials

• Q4, 2012: Daptacel^® (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed)

Tenivac™ (Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed) vials

IPOL^® (Poliovirus Vaccine Inactivated) in multi-dose vial presentation

• Q1, 2013: Pentacel^® (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed, Inactivated Poliovirus and Haemophilus b Conjugate (Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate)) vaccine

In December 2011, Sanofi Pasteur became the first vaccine company to launch the new technology, which is designed to reduce medical errors and help health care providers document vaccine information in patient records with greater accuracy by offering more product information.

Sanofi Pasteur participated in a group led by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that included key partners such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); GS1, an internationally-recognized organization dedicated to the development of global standards; and multiple manufacturers, to develop a single standard for the 2D barcode on vaccines.

Two-dimensional barcodes contain more data, including lot numbers and expiration dates, than was possible in standard linear barcodes. The barcodes are printed on the "unit-of-use," or the vials and syringes that contain the vaccines.

"Accurate information reduces errors, meaning greater safety for the patient and potential savings for the physician through better management of their vaccines," said David Greenberg, M.D., senior director, U.S. Scientific and Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur. "With the implementation of this new technology, physicians will benefit from having fewer manual steps in the vaccine management process in their practice."

To aid adoption of the technology by physicians, AAP has developed a clinical guidance for physicians to help practices use 2D barcoding with their electronic medical record (EMR) or state immunization information system (registry) www.aap.org/immunization. The CDC is also assessing the technology for vaccines in a pilot program, which begins in August. Details of the pilot can be found at www.2dbarcodepilot.com.

About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us

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's 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, 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 labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the absence of guarantee that the product 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, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, the impact of cost containment policies and subsequent changes thereto, the average number of shares outstanding as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

SOURCE Sanofi Pasteur

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