PARIS, March 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today that the Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee voted 10 to 3 in favor of the approval of Multaq(R) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with non-permanent atrial fibrillation (AF).
As demonstrated in the ATHENA trial, Multaq is the only anti-arrhythmic drug to have shown in a clinical study a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AFL) or a recent history of these conditions.
"Sanofi-aventis is pleased with the outcome of today's discussions and positive recommendation," said Jean-Pierre Lehner, Chief Medical Officer, sanofi-aventis. "The panel's insightful feedback which concluded with a positive vote, is an important step in gaining FDA approval of Multaq."
The FDA is not bound by the Committee's recommendation, but it takes its advice into consideration when reviewing new drug applications.
Atrial fibrillation is the leading cause of hospitalization for arrhythmia in the U.S. and represents one-third of hospitalizations for arrhythmia in Europe. Hospitalization due to AF has increased dramatically (two-to-three fold) in recent years in the U.S. Atrial fibrillation is a complex disease that increases the risk of stroke up to five-fold, worsens the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular risk factors, and doubles the risk of mortality. There are approximately 2.5 million Americans and 4.5 million people in the European Union with atrial fibrillation and it is emerging as a growing public health concern due to an aging population.
About dronedarone (Multaq(R))
Multaq(R), an investigational treatment discovered and developed by sanofi-aventis, has been studied in a clinical development program including more than 6,700 patients. Multaq(R) is one of the major therapeutic innovations in atrial fibrillation for the last twenty years. Multaq(R) has been granted a priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a registration dossier is also under regulatory review by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE:SNY) . For more information, visit: www.sanofi-aventis.us or www.sanofi-aventis.com.
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 product development, product potential projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions 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 "expects," "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 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 EMEA, 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 products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives as well as 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, 2008. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
Media Contact: Marisol Peron, 908.981.6565, mobile: 908-672-9051, marisol.peron@sanofi-aventis.com
Source: sanofi-aventis
CONTACT: Marisol Peron, +1-908-981-6565, mobile: +1-908-672-9051,
marisol.peron@sanofi-aventis.com
Web Site: http://www.sanofi-aventis.com/
http://www.sanofi-aventis.us/