Innovation

For Sanofi, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an integral part of their dedication at all levels and is characterized by an innovative approach that adds value. As a biopharmaceutical company focused on people's health, they are determined to "commit to society and, therefore, we want to contribute our knowledge and accelerate efforts to facilitate access to medicines and health care, as well as ensure that vaccines and other treatments essentials reach the poorest and most deprived areas of the world."

As we all know, 2020 has been a year full of challenges and has further aggravated the existing inequalities in access to health care. For this reason, the company takes a further step in its commitment to people and presents a new global Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to face the new challenges that society poses today.

This means that they're contributing to achieve the goals of SDG #3 - Good Health and Wellbeing. This is due to the fact that they are trying to eradicate diseases in certain areas and with that reduce mortality in young people. With this they are equalizing the access to vaccine and medications to the underdeveloped countries.

One of the most recent project is the development and research of how to wipe out poliomyelitis, as well as building infrastructures to end the sleeping sickness before 2030. This is essential as these communities cannot go through this process on their own as they've lack of resources and education.

In regards to the employees, they are in search of professionals that bring to the company more than just knowledge. They want people that are willing to go out of their way to make a change in the company and the society regardless of their culture, looks, believes or background.

It is as easy as Changing sides!

Inspiration

The adaptability in Sanofi is admirable and even more so in the circumstances we have today. And as the interviewee said "The pandemic has forced us to question almost every aspect of our lives: how we live and work, and how we connect with our communities and the planet. Yet as challenging as 2020 was, it also brought -a Sanofi and the pharmaceutical industry - to our purpose more than at any other time in memory. This unique context led us to increase the ambition of our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy and to further integrate it into our mission to transform lives and our vision of A better future". They have decided to convert a bad moment into a lecture and learn from it, with that they have taken a step forward to help the vulnerable and less fortunate.

They are determined to change things were done and to progress towards a better future. "Things can be done the old way or the newer way, it is as easy as changing sides!"

Overall impact

Sanofi Global Health is the first global initiative that will facilitate access to such a broad portfolio of medicines, in so many countries and for a variety of therapeutic areas such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, malaria and cancer.

In addition, as part of its commitment to rare diseases, Sanofi has also pledged to donate at least 100,000 vials of drugs each year for lysosomal storage diseases, a group of rare genetic diseases caused by an enzyme deficiency. In this way, the company reinforces its support for patients suffering from Fabry, Gaucher or Pompe disease, for whom access to treatment is usually limited.

It is also important to mention that this hasn't stopped Sanofi from growing as even with all of these changes to help others and make their production more eco-friendly, they have kept growing!

Business benefit

This innovation has been essential as it is very easy to fall into the routine of doing things and not realize that with small changes you can help the environment and other people that are much more vulnerable.

"Taking action in helping and changing, helps you see first hand how lucky we are to have all the thing that are in our every day life. Although this new project (Sanofi Global Health) has brought visibility to the company, that wasn't the original plan, the goals were health related more than the good image that this could have come with."

Even though the project isn't profitable and is being financed with Sanofi itself, the company hasn't recorded bad outcomes because of it, it has even managed to keep growing at a slight faster rate. This innovation has brought a determination in employees to work at their best and keep developing new treatments. "We could say that this project has brought a boost of energy to everyone around".

On the other hand, Sanofi has noticed a great improvement in communication and employee relations due to its wide diversification in recent years. "Giving opportunities to everyone equally is enriching, diversification feeds everyone's knowledge and growth".

Social and environmental benefit

As this pandemic has drawn new attention to the inequalities that people face every day to reduce this inequalities, Sanofi is accelerating its efforts close the gap between those who have access to life-saving health care and to those who do not have that advantage. The launch of a non-profit unit, Sanofi Global Health, to provide access to essential medicines for people of the world's 40 poorest countries where a staggering 2 billion people still lack access to health care. Sanofi is planning to expand its work with vulnerable communities through the development of new treatments for children that suffer from rare forms of cancer. This development of treatments are all founded with profits of the business and they won't recuperate costs. However, with this, Sanofi could cut the childhood cancer death rate in half within the next decade.

Sanofi is is also determined to support vulnerable communities by building on its fight to eradicate sleeping sickness by 2030. Also to help wipe out poliomyelitis.

On the other hand, there is a large effort being made to protect the planet, this means that the production of products has been turned around in order to shrink its environmental footprint.

The "backbone" of Sanofi's commitment to society has always been its people who are working to break down the visible and invisible barriers that separate its individuals from each other. Sanofi is building empowering, inclusive teams that reflect the communities where they work!

As said, "Much has already been done, but there is always more to do". This is a continuous fight that Sanofi is determined to win and keep fighting until the end!

Interviews

Jose Antonio Ibiricu, Sales Manager Oncology

Sofia Prim, Member of the communication department