News Release

Aventis Pharmaceuticals’ Allegra® (Fexofenadine Hcl) 30-Mg tablets now available to treat seasonal allergies, chronic hives in children 6 to 11 years

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Porter Novelli

PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 5, 2000 -- Aventis Pharmaceuticals announced today that Allegra® (fexofenadine HCl) 30-mg tablets, twice daily (BID), are now available by prescription for the relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) in children aged 6 to 11 years.

"Seasonal allergies affect up to six million children in the United States," said Eli Meltzer, M.D., of the Allergy and Asthma Group and Research Center, San Diego, California and lead investigator of the clinical study, Safety of Fexofenadine HCl in Children Treated for Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis. "Allegra 30-mg tablets offer physicians a safe, nonsedating allergy treatment that can help in the management of children's seasonal allergies."

In a study of 411 pediatric patients, Allegra 30-mg tablets BID significantly reduced total symptom scores compared to placebo and was well tolerated among children aged 6 to 11 years. Such allergy symptoms, including runny nose, itchy, watery, red eyes, sneezing and itchy nose, palate and throat can hinder the enjoyment of outdoor activities that children like to pursue.

Allegra 30-mg tablets are nonchewable and are smaller than a chocolate chip. This pediatric dose is an addition to the Allegra family of products currently available for patients 12 and older, including Allegra® (fexofenadine HCl) 60-mg capsules, Allegra-D® (fexofenadine HCl 60 mg/pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg) Extended-Release Tablets and Allegra® (fexofenadine HCl) 180-mg tablets.

Side-Effect Profile
In clinical trials, adverse events with Allegra 30-mg tablets were similar to placebo. The most commonly reported with Allegra 30-mg tablets and placebo in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients 6-11 years are headache (7.2% vs. 6.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (4.3% vs. 1.7%), coughing (3.8% vs. 1.3%), and accidental injury (2.9% vs. 1.3%).

Allegra 60-mg capsules are well tolerated with side effects similar to placebo. Compared to placebo, the most commonly reported adverse events with Allegra in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients 12 and older are cold or flu (2.5% vs. 1.5%), nausea (1.6% vs. 1.5%), and menstrual pain (1.5% vs. 0.3%). The most commonly reported adverse events with Allegra 60-mg tablets in CIU patients 12 years and older are back pain (2.2% vs. 1.1%), sinusitis (2.2% vs. 1.1%), dizziness (2.2% vs. 0.6%), and drowsiness (2.2% vs. 0.0%).

Because Allegra-D® (fexofenadine HCl 60 mg/pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg) Extended-Release Tablets contain pseudoephedrine (the decongestant in most over-the-counter allergy medicines), Allegra-D must not be taken if you are also taking MAO inhibitors (medicines that treat depression) or if you retain urine or have glaucoma, severe high blood pressure, or severe heart disease. Also, let your doctor know before you take Allegra-D if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, glaucoma, thyroid disease, impaired kidney function, or symptoms of an enlarged prostate such as difficulty urinating. The most commonly reported adverse experiences with Allegra-D compared to pseudoephedrine alone were headache (13.0% vs. 17.4%), insomnia (12.6% vs. 13.3%), and nausea (7.4% vs. 5.0%).

The most commonly reported adverse events with Allegra“ (fexofenadine HCl) 180 mg and placebo, respectively, in SAR patients 12 years and older are headache (10.6% vs. 7.5%), upper respiratory tract infection (3.2% vs. 3.1%), and back pain (2.8% vs. 1.4%).

What Is Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR)?
Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is a chronic condition occurring during the spring and fall allergy seasons that is caused by the body's reaction to allergens that enter through the respiratory tract. Allergies affect as many as 40 million people in the United States -- 10 percent of children and 20-30 percent of adolescents suffer from allergies. Typical allergens that cause SAR are grass, tree, and weed pollens. Symptoms typically affect the nose, but patients also report itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion. SAR often remains undiagnosed and untreated because people mistake their symptoms as related to a "cold" or the "flu."

What Is Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU)?
Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), is caused by a reaction to an unknown trigger in the upper layers of the skin. Its primary symptom is the formation of itchy hives that last less than 24 hours but can recur frequently for six weeks or longer. The cause of CIU cannot be discovered in at least 75% of cases.

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Where Can Consumers Find Allergy and Allegra® (fexofenadine HCl) information? Pollen forecasts for 100 cities across the United States and in-depth articles about seasonal allergic rhinitis can be found on http://www.allegra.com. In addition, consumers can find information on Allegra by calling 1-800-ALLEGRA.

Aventis Pharmaceuticals conducts the U.S. business of Aventis Pharma AG, the pharmaceutical company of Aventis S.A. (NYSE: AVE). Aventis Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to treating and preventing human disease through the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of innovative pharmaceutical products aimed at satisfying unmet medical needs. Aventis Pharmaceuticals focuses on important therapeutic areas such as cardiology, oncology, infectious diseases, arthritis, allergies and respiratory disorders, diabetes and central nervous system disorders. The corporate headquarters for Aventis Pharmaceuticals is in Parsippany, N.J.

Aventis Pharma comprises Aventis Pharmaceuticals; Aventis Pasteur, a world leader in vaccines, with corporate headquarters in Lyon, France; and Aventis Behring, a world leader in therapeutic proteins, with corporate headquarters in King of Prussia, Pa. The corporate headquarters of Aventis Pharma is in Frankfurt, Germany.

One of the world's leading life sciences companies, Aventis S.A. is focused on two core business areas: pharmaceuticals and agriculture. With global headquarters in Strasbourg, France, Aventis employs approximately 90,000 people in 120 countries. Aventis was created in December 1999 by the combination of Hoechst AG and RhÙne-Poulenc, S.A.

To receive a copy of this news release or any recent release via fax, call Aventis Pharmaceuticals' automated news fax line at 800-556-7422, or 816-966-3434. See attached prescribing information or to receive prescribing information, call 800-552-3656, or 816-966-3349 or visit the Aventis Pharmaceuticals U.S.A. Web site at http://www.aventispharma-us.com. Statements in this news release other than historical information are forward-looking statements subject to risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially depending on factors such as the availability of resources, the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the strength of competition, the outcome of litigation, and the effectiveness of patent protection. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties is set forth in documents of Aventis on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the Registration Statement on Form F-4 of RhÙne-Poulenc, S.A. (the previous name of Aventis) and other documents of RhÙne-Poulenc, S.A. and Hoechst AG on file with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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