New Trial Presented at AAAAI Reports that the Growth of Children 2-5 Years Old with Year-Round Allergic Rhinitis Continued According to Normal Age-Adjusted Distribution Over a 6-Month Treatment with Nasacort AQ

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Data presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) suggests that the continuous use of intranasal corticosteroid Nasacort AQ (triamcinolone acetonide) Nasal Spray had no treatment effect on stature-for age distribution among children aged 2-5 years old with year-round allergic rhinitis. "Continuous use of intranasal corticosteroids in the treatment of very young children with allergic rhinitis has in the past raised concerns regarding potential effects on growth," said study investigator Dr. Paul Ratner, Medical Director, Sylvana Research Associates, San Antonio, Texas. "I am encouraged by the results which showed that following 6 month treatment with Nasacort AQ, the stature-for-age distribution did not appear to shift compared to pretreatment in children aged 2-5 years who suffer from year-round allergies." This is one of the first controlled studies in the U.S. designed to investigate both the efficacy and safety of intranasal corticosteroid treatment in children aged 2-5 years with year-round allergies. The trial included a four-week, multicenter, double-blind treatment period during which 433 children were randomized to receive either Nasacort AQ 110 micrograms or placebo as 1 spray per nostril once daily. After four weeks, 353 patients entered into a 6-month open label phase receiving treatment with once-daily Nasacort AQ. Height was measured at Visit 1 to establish a baseline, Visit 4 after the initial 4 weeks, and Visit 8 when the 6-month open label period completed. The treatment-emergent adverse event profile was similar between the Nasacort AQ group and placebo group, and consistent with the profile in children 6 years of age and older. To participate in the study, patients had to have year-round allergic rhinitis. Height was measured at each office visit using a stadiometer, an instrument for measuring height. After the four-week double-blind period, no treatment effect was seen in adjusted mean height increase plus or minus SE (p=0.4086) between children treated with Nasacort AQ (0.62 plus or minus 0.224 cm; n=217) and those receiving placebo (0.38 plus or minus 0.225 cm; n=216). After the 6-month open label period (Visit 8), the adjusted mean increase in height was 3.62 + 0.693 cm. Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth standards, the distribution of patients by height-for-age percentile remained constant from Visit 1 to Visit 8. At Visit 1, 6.2% of children were in the <5 percentile (n=22) versus 5.4% (n=19) at Visit 8. Similarly, at Visit 1, 6.5% of children (n=23) were within the >95th percentile versus 7.4% at Visit 8. At both Visit 1 and Visit 8, 87.3% of children (n=308) fell between the 5th and 95th percentile. The study was submitted as part of a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Nasacort AQ in children aged 2 - 5 years, which was recently accepted for review by the FDA. About CDC Growth Charts The CDC growth charts consist of a series of percentile curves that illustrate the distribution of selected body measurements in U.S. children. The charts provide health professionals with a tool to compare growth in infants, children, and adolescents with a nationally representative reference based on children of all ages and racial or ethnic groups. The CDC growth charts were updated in 2000. About Allergic Rhinitis Allergic rhinitis is a swelling of the nasal passages, usually accompanied by sneezing, watery nasal discharge and itching of the nose and eyes. This medical condition is caused by an allergic reaction to allergens such as house dust, animal dander, or pollen. On any given day, 10,000 American children miss school because of allergic rhinitis, for a total of 2 million lost school days. 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). 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 financial 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. 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