Sanofi Pasteur Commends Winners of International BioGENEius Challenge

SWIFTWATER, Pa., June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN andNYSE: SNY), offers its congratulations to the four winners of the International BioGENEius Challenge, a competition for high school students who demonstrate an exemplary understanding of biotechnology through science research projects.

Sanofi Pasteur has sponsored the International BioGENEius Challenge since its inception in the early 1990s. Sanofi Pasteur scientists also served as judges for the US finals and the International finals competitions that were held during the BIO International Convention, which is the largest global event for the biotechnology industry, attracting between 14,000 and 20,000 attendees each year.

"Tomorrow's scientific discoveries depend upon society's ability to develop scientists today," notes Damian Braga, Sanofi Pasteur's senior vice president, global commercial operations, vaccines.  "Science-based corporations need to do all we can to encourage and support young students' interest in the sciences and this competition is one way to do that."

The 2011 winners of the International BioGENEius Challenge are:

First place – Prarthana Dalal from Shawnee Mission East High School in Leawood, Kan. Her project was Modeling of human non-deletional hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) conditions in Beta-globin locus transgenic mouse models: The -175 (T to C) and -195 (C to G) A-gamma globin gene point mutations.

Second place – Nathan Kondamuri from Munster High School in Dyer, Ind. His project was A Novel Biofuel Cell Based On Direct Electron Transfer-Type Bioelectrocatalysis Incorporating the Efficient System of Photophosphorylation.

Third place – David Campeau from Mayo High School in Rochester, Minn. His project was Brain Computer Interface.

Fourth place – Jenna Pappalardo from Satellite High School in Merritt Island, Fla. Her project was Meddling with RGS17.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us

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SOURCE Sanofi Pasteur