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On October 8, 2005, an earthquake of magnitude 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the north of Pakistan, causing over 73,000 deaths and nearly 3.5 million homeless. Sanofi-aventis reacted by donating medicine for emergency kits sent by TULIPE (Emergency Transfers from the Pharmaceutical Industry), which worked in partnership with organizations such as COSI (International Aid Committee), Secouristes Sans Frontières, and the Pakistan Red Crescent.

The company also met the need for vaccines by sending 30,000 typhoid shots, 2,080 million tetanus shots, 1 million measles shots and 20,000 hepatitis A shots to Pakistan. These vaccines were channeled to the populations via the Aga Khan’s development networks.

Sanof-aventis then partnered with Handicap International to help aid reach the quake victims. Through its expertise in post-quake situations, the NGO helped to provide prostheses and to re-educate the wounded, train care staff and communities, and raise awareness in regard to treating handicaps.