FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The vaccine, to be supplied in 100,608 10-dose vials, will be manufactured at Aventis’s Swiftwater facility. The contract is to be fulfilled by November 30, 2003.

“Monroe County and Northeastern Pennsylvania continue to benefit from being home to a high-technology company and good corporate citizen like Aventis Pasteur. I will continue working to attract to our region more high-paying jobs such as those found at Aventis,” Congressman Kanjorski said.

Congressman Kanjorski also commended Aventis Pasteur for recently donating samples of its proprietary cell line to the federal government for use in combating the virus suspected of causing SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).

“With this donation to fight SARS, Aventis Pasteur has once again shown itself to be a good neighbor to Northeastern Pennsylvania and a good corporate citizen in the United States,” Congressman Kanjorski said.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson stated at the time of the donation, “Once again, Aventis Pasteur is supporting the U.S. government in our efforts to protect our citizens. I personally appreciate the hard work made by Aventis Pasteur employees and the generosity of the company in assisting HHS in our efforts to develop a SARS vaccine.”

In March 2002, Aventis Pasteur donated 85 million doses of smallpox vaccine to the federal government emergency preparedness stockpile.