The Next Frontier: A Healthcare Revolution For All

As the Sanofi Digital Healthcare team returns from the 16th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) in Berlin, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on where we are as a community and the endless possibilities in front of us.

It’s time for a revolution, not an evolution

2023 marks 100 years of insulin production at Sanofi. Over the past century, the pharmaceutical industry has been at the forefront of the last two significant healthcare revolutions – against communicable and non-communicable diseases. And while the discovery of insulin and many other therapies led to immense change, we are still in the early days of striving to eradicate the disease burden for hundreds of millions of people, especially those living with diabetes.

Diabetes, in particular, is still responsible for millions of deaths each year and countless serious complications, especially in individuals that are underserved, under-supported, and disregarded by society. For many reasons, diabetes continues to grow unchecked and represents a potential threat to the lives of millions of people.

Despite our best efforts and billions of dollars invested by many organizations, global health outcomes continue to deteriorate, while chronic disease proliferates and patients’, as well as healthcare professionals’, satisfaction is at an all-time low.

Given this, the time is now to usher in the third healthcare revolution, one that puts people and their loved ones’ well-being and quality of life at the center. One that is free of bias, shame and apathy. One that is bold and changes our collective course for the better. One that directly sets out to eradicate silent epidemics like diabetes.

All it takes is a spark to ignite a fire

At Sanofi, we are on a mission… A mission to chase the miracles of science to change lives. Our team wakes up every day with a passion for driving change. We know innovation around technology, treatments, access and affordability are key to improving the lives of millions.

• This is why we created a connected insulin cap with Biocorp for use with insulin injection pens to help record dosing and to develop new solutions and insights to support people with diabetes.
• This is why we have partnered with Glooko, Health2Sync, Dario and others on technology, aiming to help ease the burden of disease management for people living with diabetes and offer healthcare professionals an additional source of information to make informed treatment decisions.
• This is why we partnered with TrialSpark to help identify and develop late-stage candidate treatments, aiming to bring them to patients as quickly as possible.
• This is why we created the Sanofi Global Health Unit to improve access to care in 40 of the lowest-income countries through a unique self-sustained non-profit model.
• This is why we are a partner with the International Diabetes Federation and support their Kids and Diabetes in Schools program that focuses on diabetes education, fighting diabetes-related stigma, and promoting healthy lifestyles to tackle the risk factors of type 2 diabetes.
• This is why we support conferences like ATTD, where new innovations and progressive organizations are spotlighted.
• This is why, during COP27, we announced joint action with six other global pharmaceutical companies to build an end-to-end emissions calculation standard and tool for healthcare pathways, that allows stakeholders to measure and track emissions. By doing this, we aim to lower carbon emissions associated with delivering healthcare, including for conditions affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide such as diabetes.

We have the responsibility and opportunity to drive this revolution – for people with chronic diseases, for their loved ones, for equity and for life.

This is why we get up every day, laboriously pulling down barriers and scaling challenges alongside new partners, old competitors, healthcare professionals, payers, governments, patient advocacy groups, etc.

And this is why we will once again take the mantle of disruption and break the walled gardens of care and data to enable people to get the care they deserve, creating a new system that’s designed to support the people who need it most. A new person-centric, democratized community of care, open to all and built for and by the people to revolutionize the way we deliver innovation and care.

In so doing, we will stand up and lead the acceleration of change by helping to organize and make available new innovations and new capabilities to people, providers, and payers worldwide.

Calling all mavericks, rebels, and innovators

I am proud to be part of Sanofi. I’m proud what we have and will accomplish. I'm proud of the company’s mission to chase the miracles of science to change lives in diabetes, cardiology, transplant, immunology, CNS, oncology, and vaccines.

But no one can do it on their own.

Equally, as a person living with type 1 diabetes with multiple other autoimmune challenges, I live these challenges. I know that today, my life and that of other people with diabetes and their families will be more complex than it should be. I know the day-to-day burden it puts on my family, like those of more than 500 million people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. I also fully recognize that I’m one of the lucky few to have considerable support, and as such, I have a responsibility and an obligation to others that are less fortunate.

I’m convinced we are at a turning point where new treatments and technology are going to enable us to break through the walls that have bound us. Together, we can knock down these barriers.

My ask is for everyone - mavericks, rebels, innovators, patients, healthcare, providers, associations, and other manufacturers alike - to join us. Join us to change the direction for our children and our children’s children.

I pledge we will never settle. Together, we can and we will reverse the global growth of diabetes and halt this as well as many other insidious conditions and diseases.

At Sanofi, we chase the miracles of science to improve patient lives. So, join the revolution and help us build a healthier world. #bettertogether #sanofi