Sanofi-Synthelabo and Pfizer conclude an agreement on the divestment of Campto® (irinotecan) conditional upon completi

Sanofi-Synthelabo and Pfizer conclude an agreement on the divestment of Campto® (irinotecan) conditional upon completion of Sanofi-Synthelabo's offer for Aventis Paris, June 25, 2004 Sanofi-Synthélabo announced today that it has signed an agreement with Pfizer Inc. regarding the divestment of Aventis' interests in Campto® (irinotecan) in response to requests made by the competition authorities. Subject to the consent of the US Federal Trade Commission and the success of Sanofi-Synthelabo's offer for Aventis, Pfizer will take over key clinical studies for Campto® that are currently conducted by Aventis, together with certain patents and other assets pertaining to territories where Pfizer currently markets irinotecan, including the United States. Pfizer will further, subject to certain conditions including clearance by European competition authority, acquire all other assets relating to Campto® held by Aventis. The consideration for the whole transaction is of $ 620 million and includes some milestone payments for the registration of future indications. Campto® (irinotecan) is indicated for treatment of advanced colorectal cancer in combination with 5-fluorouracil (FU) and folinic acid (FA) in first-line treatment as well as monotherapy in second-line treatment. Several Phase III studies are underway or have recently been completed to evaluate the use of Campto® in adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer, advanced gastric cancer, small cell lung cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer. Aventis markets Campto®, which was first launched in 1995 under a license from Yakult Honsha Company Limited, primarily in Europe, Asia and Africa. In 2003, Aventis' sales of Campto® reached E 264 million. In accordance with article 7 of the COB rule no. 2002-04, this press release was transmitted to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) before its publication. Important Information: In connection with the proposed acquisition of Aventis, Sanofi-Synthélabo has filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (File no. 333-112314), including a prospectus and a prospectus supplement relating to the revised offer, and will file additional documents with the SEC. Investors are urged to read the registration statement, including the prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the revised offer, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, including all amendments and supplements, because they contain important information. Free copies of the registration statement, as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC, may be obtained at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. The prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the revised offer and other transaction-related documents are being mailed to Aventis security holders eligible to participate in the U.S. offer and additional copies may be obtained for free from MacKenzie Partners, Inc., the information agent for the U.S. offer, at the following address: 105, Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016; telephone: 1-(212) 929-5500 (call collect) or 1-(800) 322-2885 (toll-free call); e-mail proxy@mackenziepartners.com. In France, holders of Aventis securities are requested, with respect to the offer, to refer to the prospectus supplement (note d'information complémentaire), which has been granted visa number 04-384 by the Autorité des marchés financiers ("AMF") and which is available on the website of the AMF (www.amf-france.org) and without cost from: BNP Paribas Securities Services, GIS-Emetteurs, Service Logistique, Les Collines de l'Arche, 75450 Paris Cedex 9 and to the recommendation statement (note d'information en réponse) which has been granted visa number 04-510. The public offer to holders of Aventis ordinary shares located in Germany (the "German Offer") is being made in accordance with applicable German law and pursuant to an offer document/sales prospectus, which is available free of charge at BNP Paribas Securities Services, Grüneburgweg 14, D-60322 Frankfurt am Main (Fax: 069 - 152 05 277) and on the website of the Company (www.sanofi-synthelabo.com). Any decision to tender Aventis ordinary shares in exchange for Sanofi-Synthélabo ordinary shares under the German Offer must be taken exclusively with regard to the terms and conditions of the German Offer, as well as with regard to the information included in the offer document/sales prospectus, including any amendments thereto, issued in Germany. The French Offer, the U.S. Offer and the German Offer are being made on substantially the same terms and completion of these offers is subject to the same conditions. It is intended that the three offers will expire at the same time. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 2, 2004 and any other documents filed by Sanofi-Synthélabo with the SEC at www.sec.gov as well as of the Reference Document filed with the AMF on April 2, 2004 (N° 04-0391) at www.amf-france.org or directly from Sanofi-Synthélabo on our web site at: www.sanofi-synthelabo.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ Informasjonen er sendt gjennom Waymaker http://www.waymaker.no Nedenstående filer kan lastes ned: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2004/06/29/20040629BIT20340/wkr0001.pdf