Aventis Files Patent Infringement Lawsuits Related to Allegra(R) (fexofenadine HCl) and Allegra-D(R) (fexofenadine HCl 60 mg/pse

Aventis Files Patent Infringement Lawsuits Related to Allegra(R) (fexofenadine
HCl) and Allegra-D(R) (fexofenadine HCl 60 mg/pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg) 


BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aventis announced today
the company, alongwith AMR Technology, Inc. -- a wholly owned subsidiary of
Albany Molecular Research, Inc. -- has filed additional patent infringement
lawsuits against five companies currently seeking approval to produce and market
generic versions of Allegra(R) (fexofenadine HCl) and Allegra-D(R) (fexofenadine
HCl 60 mg/pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg).

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000501/NYM197 )

The lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court of New Jersey and
are based on United States Patent Nos. 5,581,011 and 5,750,703, which are owned
by AMR Technology, Inc. and exclusively licensed to Aventis.  These patents,
which expire in the late 2013-2015 timeframe, claim fexofenadine intermediates
and processes for making fexofenadine.

Aventis previously filed patent infringement lawsuits against the same five
companies involved in this latest action on patents claiming methods of using
fexofenadine and fexofenadine formulations.  Those companies are Barr
Laboratories, Inc., Impax Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Mylan
Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. These previously-filed lawsuits
are also pending in the District Court of New Jersey and Aventis has requested
that the newly filed lawsuits involving the process patents beconsolidated with
the previously-filed lawsuits.

In a conference on March 8, 2004, the District Court of New Jersey set April 15,
2005 as the end date for the discovery phase of these cases. The previously-set
trial date of September 2004 is no longerin effect and no new trial date has
been scheduled.

Generic or other versions of Allegra that infringe Aventis' intellectual
property rights cannot be marketed lawfully until a decision favorable to the
other company in any related patent litigation were to occur, or until the
automatic 30-month stay of FDA approval has elapsed, whichever comes first.

About Aventis

Aventis is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by discovering and
developing innovative prescription drugs and human vaccines. In 2003, Aventis
generated sales of euro 16.79 billion (US $18.99), invested euro 2.86 billion
(US $3.24) in research and development and employed approximately 69,000 people
in its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.
The company's prescription drugs business is conducted in the U.S. by Aventis
Pharmaceuticals Inc., which is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For
more information, please visit: http://www.aventis-us.com/.

Statements in this news release containing projections or estimates of revenues,
income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, capital structure, or other
financial items; plans and objectives relating to future operations, products,
or services; future economic performance; or assumptions underlying or relating
to any such statements, are forward-looking statements subject to risks and
uncertainties.  Actual results could differ materially depending on factors such
as the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the results of clinical trials,
the company's relative success developing and gaining market acceptance for new
products, the outcome of significant litigation, and the effectiveness of patent
protection.  Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties is set
forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and in the current Annual Report -- "Document
de Reference" -- on file with the "Autorite des marches financiers" in France.

Pursuant to Article 7 of the COB Regulation no. 2002-04, this press release was
transmitted to the Autorite des marches financiers before its release. 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000501/NYM197DATASOURCE: Aventis



CONTACT:  Lise Geduldig, [phone], or ,

or Melissa Feltmann, [phone], or , both of

Aventis US Communications, Global Contacts: Corinne Hoff, [phone],

or , or Tony Roddam, [phone], or

, both of Aventis Global Media Relations 



Web site:  http://www.aventis.com/

http://www.aventis-us.com/ 

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