Sanofi Announces a second wave of 14 Innovative Research Projects funding through its European Academic Awards Program

Sanofi announces today that it has recognized 14 innovative research projects as part of the Sanofi Innovation Awards Europe program (Sanofi iAwards Europe). This program brings together multiple academic research institutions as partners at the earliest stages of drug discovery and expertise sharing, to prepare for possible multi-year research collaboration for the most promising projects.Initiated in 2018 with leading research institutions in France and Germany. The program was extended in 2019 to new partners in France and Germany as well as in new countries with the United Kingdom and Israel.

The Sanofi iAwards program seeks to promote potential scientific breakthroughs, especially through the exchange of knowledge between Sanofi and top academic scientific teams. It will fund and nurture selected academic projects for one year, with the potential to lead to further collaborations. The aim is to accelerate the research and development process and address patients’ needs more quickly. These efforts combine new learnings from academic institutions on the biological mechanisms of diseases, and Sanofi’s drug discovery and development capabilities.

Today in Paris, will be held a Scientific Symposium, with participating academic centers, recognized project leaders and Sanofi Research & Development (R&D) teams. This event is the opportunity to gather all the contributors of the iAwards Europe program from 18 best in class research centers in Europe and Israel and Sanofi teams. This symposium represents the chance to discover the scientific milestones achieved with the 2018 iAwards projects after one year and launch the new collaborations starting in 2019 within the second wave of iAwards Europe program.    

“With advances in our understanding of biology and the rapid introduction of new technologies, we have an unparalleled opportunity to make a difference for patients”, says Jacques Volckmann Head of R&D France.  “But to maximize the opportunities, the scientific and medical community whether in pharmaceutical industry or academics, must work more closely, and in new and different ways. In Europe, where almost 50% of our R&D organisation is based, the Sanofi’s goal is to create a more seamless and rapid flow of ideas from the basic research and discovery that takes places in academic labs to the work done internally into new therapeutic approaches. It also gives our leading academic partners the opportunity to advance their critical projects”.  

 “This second edition of this unique industry-academic partnership is a great success.” said Jochen Maas, Head of R&D Germany “18 leading academic institutes in Europe and Israel were invited to submit proposals. For two days, academic and Sanofi R&D teams will be gathered around the scientific milestones achieved with the 2018 iAwards projects and new projects selected in 2019. This event is a unique occasion to exchange with our partners on areas of interest and new approaches to find new therapeutic pathways that could be translated in solutions for patients.”

A joint steering committee composed of scientific representatives from Sanofi and participating academic centers gathered to review the most promising proposals from all participating institutions in this program. In 2019, selected projects include innovative projects focused on new diseases targets or biomarkers, new mechanisms of action or therapeutic modalities in seven different therapeutic areas: Molecular/Immuno-Oncology, Immunology & Inflammation, Diabetes, Neuroscience, Rare Diseases, Rare Blood Disorders and Vaccines.

In Molecular/Immuno-oncology therapeutic area, Dr. S. Roman-Roman from Institut Cuire was awarded for a project on Uveal Melanoma.