Sanofi and the Joslin Diabetes Center, a teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School, announced a new collaboration to promote the development of new medicines for the treatment of diabetes and related disorders. The collaboration was unveiled at the 2012 Bio International Convention in Boston, Mass.
Building on Joslin’s experience in diabetes research and care, the collaboration will focus on four key areas within diabetes and related metabolic disorders to identify potential new biologics or small drug candidates for the treatment of late complications of diabetes and new insulin analogs with more targeted efficacy. Additionally, research will address the challenges of insulin resistance and personalised medicine, with the overall aim of improving the lives of people living with diabetes.
Dr Elias Zerhouni, President, Global R&D, Sanofi, said, “This collaboration brings together two important forces in diabetes therapy – Sanofi Diabetes and Joslin Diabetes Center – which have the potential to define new pathways towards better understanding the nature of this disease and developing new treatments. This collaboration further demonstrates Sanofi’s commitment to improving diabetes management and care through the development of innovative research strategies.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Sanofi has options to commercialise the results of the research. Both parties will have access to intellectual property for internal research use.
C Ronald Kahn, Mary K Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief Academic Officer of Joslin Diabetes Center, who will head the alliance team, said, “This opportunity brings together experts from the pharmaceutical industry with our team of scientists and clinicians, who are devoted to research and clinical care for diabetes and related metabolic disorders. The result should be a very exciting collaboration with great potential for innovative research that will participate to advance diabetes treatment and patient care.”
EP News Bureau – Mumbai