AMBIEN CR™ NOW AVAILABLE IN THE US FOR THE TREATMENT OF INSOMNIA

AMBIEN CR™ NOW AVAILABLE IN THE US FOR THE TREATMENT OF INSOMNIA First and Only Extended-Release Prescription Sleep Medication Indicated for Sleep Induction and Maintenance Now in Pharmacies Across the U.S. Paris, France - October 7, 2005 -- Sanofi-aventis (NYSE: SNY; EURONEXT: SAN) announced today that AMBIEN CR™ (zolpidem tartrate extended-release tablets) CIV, a new extended-release formulation of the number one prescription sleep aid AMBIEN® (zolpidem tartrate) CIV,1 is now available by prescription in pharmacies across the United States for the treatment of insomnia.2 AMBIEN CR™ is non-narcotic and a non-benzodiazepine, formulated to offer a similar safety profile to AMBIEN® with a new indication for sleep maintenance, in addition to sleep induction.2 In contrast to AMBIEN®, AMBIEN CR™ is not limited to the short-term treatment of insomnia.2 According to a recent National Sleep Foundation poll, more than one half (54%) of Americans said they experience at least one symptom of insomnia at least a few nights a week.3 In fact, one in five adults experienced difficulty falling asleep and one in three reported waking often during the night at least a few nights a week.3 AMBIEN CR™ is the first and only extended-release prescription sleep medication to help people with insomnia fall asleep fast and maintain sleep with no significant decrease in next day performance.2 AMBIEN CR™, a bi-layered tablet, is delivered in two stages. The first layer dissolves quickly to induce sleep.2 The second layer is released more gradually into the body to help provide more continuous sleep.2 The safety and efficacy of zolpidem, the active ingredient in AMBIEN CR™, has been reinforced by 17 years of real-world use and 12 billion nights of patient therapy worldwide, since the first launch.4 AMBIEN CR™ is now available in a 12.5 mg dose recommended for adults and a 6.25 mg dose recommended for the elderly.2 About sanofi-aventis The sanofi-aventis Group is the world’s 3rd largest pharmaceutical company, ranking number 1 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. The sanofi-aventis Group is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY) Sanofi-aventis Group subsidiaries in the United States include Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc., and Aventis Pharmacuticals Inc. and Sanofi Pasteur Inc. references 1 IMS Health, National Prescription Audit Plus, MAT December 2003. 2 AMBIEN CR Prescribing Information, sanofi-aventis. 3 WB&A Market Research. Cofton, National Sleep Foundation 2005 Sleep in America Poll, March 29, 2005. 4 Data on file. sanofi-aventis. ------------------------------------------------------------ Informasjonen er sendt gjennom Waymaker http://www.waymaker.no