Pharmaceutical Company's Total Donation to Cancer Research

Sanofi-aventis Canada Inc. adds to impressive total with another $50,000 donation to London Health Sciences Foundation.

London, Ont. - London Health Sciences Foundation has received a $50,000 donation from sanofi-aventis Canada Inc. to support cancer research at the London Health Sciences Centre's London Regional Cancer Program. The pharmaceutical company's donations over the past few years total $500,000, and have been directed primarily to the Urologic Oncology Fellowship, in addition to prostate and breast cancer research.

"Oncology is a key therapeutic area for our company worldwide and in Canada, particularly in the fields of prostate and breast cancer," says Raf Henein, vice-president, business unit - internal medicine and oncology, sanofi-aventis Canada Inc. "This donation reaffirms our commitment to cancer research by providing funding for a talented young investigator's fellowship in urologic oncology. Our support for the virtual breast cancer clinic and database is also one that we hope will help countless patients when faced with this aggressive disease. We are very pleased to make this investment at a world-renowned centre here in London."

This year's funding from sanofi-aventis brings the Urologic Oncology Fellowship donation to $350,000, a donation that will allow LHSC to remain a world-renowned scientific centre for prostate cancer research, education, and treatment. LHSC - with its academic partner, The University of Western Ontario - is one of just two Canadian centres to offer the Urologic Oncology Fellowship accredited by the Society of Urologic Oncology.

"The donation is very important for us to continue with our Uro-Oncology fellowship program in terms of advancing patient care, continuing with research, and training uro-oncologists both in Canada and abroad," says Dr. Joseph Chin, medical director, surgical oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre.

Dr. Chin is also a professor of urology and director of the uro-oncology fellowship program, and a scientist with Lawson Health Research Institute.

Dr. Venu Chalasani, who joined LHSC in July, is the current Urologic Oncology fellow. During his two-year fellowship, Dr. Chalasani will take part in one clinical year and one research year, gaining advanced expertise in the multidisciplinary management of patients with urologic cancer, and participating in innovative research while seeking new discoveries in prostate cancer treatment and care.

Dr. Chalasani complements a strong, established surgical and research team including Dr. Joseph Chin; Dr. Jonathan I. Izawa, assistant professor and program director, urology, at Western, and uro-oncologist, LRCP, LHSC; Dr. Eric Winquist, medical director of the GU disease site team, LRCP, LHSC; and Dr. Glenn Bauman, director of research, LRCP, LHSC; chair, oncology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western.

Dr. Izawa, Dr. Winquist, Dr. Bauman are also scientists with Lawson Health Research Institute.

"Research is a long-term investment and in order to conduct world-class research, we need companies to commit to those pursuits," says Dan Ross, president and chief executive officer, London Health Sciences Foundation. "The participation of sanofi-aventis over numerous years is exactly the kind of sustained investment that we need to continue our research and achieve results."

About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis is the world's third largest pharmaceutical company, ranking number one 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 disorders, central nervous system, internal medicine, and vaccines. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT : SAN) and in New York (NYSE : SNY). In Canada, sanofi-aventis employs over 1,140 people and has its headquarters in Laval, Quebec.

About London Health Sciences Centre
Located in London, Ontario, LHSC encompasses South Street Hospital, University Hospital and Victoria Hospital; Byron Family Medical Centre and Victoria Family Medical Centre; and the London Regional Cancer Program. LHSC is the home of Children's Hospital and CSTAR (Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics). The research arm of LHSC is Lawson Health Research Institute, a partnership with St. Joseph's Health Care, London. LHSC is affiliated with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario. Physicians and staff at LHSC number more than10,000. Together, they provided care for more than one million patient visits during the year.

About London Health Sciences Foundation
For more than a decade, London Health Sciences Foundation has inspired investment in excellence at London Health Sciences Centre. London Health Sciences Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 1996 through the amalgamation of the University and Victoria Hospital Foundations. The Foundation links; donors, health care consumers, the community and health care experts - including physicians, allied professionals, researchers, staff and educators - in pursuit of medical excellence at London Health Sciences Centre.

www.lhsf.ca

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For more information on London Health Sciences Foundation, please contact:

Alexander Peterson
Manager, Communications & Public Relations
London Health Sciences Foundation
519-685-8527 or Alexander.Peterson@lhsc.on.ca