Industry news: Wyeth Team Recognized by White House with Prestigious National Medal of Technology

Madison, N.J., September, 2007 – Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) announced that a team of Wyeth scientists involved in the discovery, development and manufacture of PREVNAR®, Pneumococcal 7-valent Conjugate Vaccine (Diphtheria CRM197 Protein), has been awarded the 2005 National Medal of Technology by President George W. Bush at a White House ceremony on the 27th July 2007. The National Medal of Technology is the nation's highest honour for technological achievement. PREVNAR® is the first and only vaccine available to help protect infants and toddlers against invasive pneumococcal disease caused by vaccine serotypes.
The Medal is given to individuals, teams, and companies for outstanding contributions to the nation's economic, environmental and social well-being, and recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to the United States' standard of living and quality of life through technological innovation. The members of the Wyeth team honored by the White House are Drs. Ronald Eby, Velupillai Puvanesarajah, Dace Madore and Ms. Maya Koster.
“This award is a testament to these outstanding scientists and their colleagues as well as the pioneering science employed by Wyeth in the development of PREVNAR,” says Bernard Poussot, President, Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman, Wyeth. “This honour is also exemplary of the rich talent that is driving leading-edge research at Wyeth that will contribute to the improvement of global public health for years to come.”
Pneumococcal disease, a group of illnesses including bacteraemia/ sepsis, meningitis, and bacteraemic pneumonia, results in up to 1 million deaths each year in young children globally, and is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in children younger than five years of age.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced in March 2007 its position to support the priority inclusion of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) in national immunization programs worldwide.

About the National Medal of Technology

The annual National Medal of Technology, bestowed by the President since 1985 as the Nation's highest award for technological innovation, was mandated by Congress in 1980 to recognize the significant contributions that
America's leading innovators have made to the Nation's economic strength and standard of living. Further information is available at http://www.technology.gov/medal.

About Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and affects both children and adults. According to the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), pneumococcal disease is a leading cause of death and illness worldwide.

Dr Nini Ramasamy
Medical Director
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
(011) 655-2600