Sanofi reveals new R&D strategy

France-headquartered Sanofi presented key updates to its research and development (R&D) strategy yesterday, outlining three key shifts.

The changes comprise moving from licensing to proprietary assets, from small molecules to biologics, and from mono-targeting to multi-targeting compounds.

Since 2016, Sanofi has placed an increasing emphasis on developing proprietary technology platforms, including multi-specific antibodies.

The French company’s pipeline currently spans 71 R&D projects, including 37 new molecular entities and novel vaccines.

Sanofi said there are at least ten pivotal phase 3 studies expected to start over the next 12 months which will evaluate new treatments for type 2 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, among others.

Over the next 12 months, Sanofi expects to make regulatory filings for two investigational cancer drugs (cemiplimab and isatuximab), a novel therapy for type 1 diabetes (sotagliflozin) and a potential treatment for uncontrolled, persistent asthma (dupilumab).

Olivier Brandicourt, the CEO of Sanofi, said the company has seen significant advancement in its ambition to sustain innovation in R&D through the development of technology platforms and high-potential projects.

“We are confident this portfolio will be the foundation for Sanofi’s long-term growth,” said Brandicourt.

Elias Zerhouni, managing director, global head of R&D at Sanofi, added: “2018 will be an important year as we expect multiple milestones for Sanofi’s late-stage pipeline, made possible through the prioritisation principles we have consistently applied to our early-stage research programmes.”

In October, LSIPR reported that IP management company CPA Global had found that Sanofi files the most patents covering human gene therapy and also spends the most on them overall.