Sanofi Announces Call for Submissions for Ignite: The Diabetes Ideas Challenge

PARIS, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

− Worldwide invitation to create and submit concepts

for a potential next-generation insulin delivery device −

Sanofi (EURONEXT : SAN and NYSE : SNY) announced today that it is accepting submissions for Ignite: The Diabetes Ideas Challenge ("Ignite Challenge"). The web-based Ignite Challenge invites patients, caregivers, designers, engineers, and innovators from around the globe to submit ideas that could shape the features and design of a next-generation, insulin delivery device for people with diabetes. Building on the user experience and technology advances of the past 30 years, the Ignite Challenge seeks to address the critical need for innovative, easy-to-use and cost-effective devices for delivering injectable medications for the treatment of diabetes.

"Over time and across geographies, we observe a consistent increase in the use of injectable medications among the more than 370 million people living with diabetes," said Pierre Chancel, Senior Vice President, Global Diabetes, Sanofi. "Through innovation challenges such as the Ignite Challenge, Sanofi hopes to foster creative thinking and new ideas that may improve the way people manage their diabetes in the future using patient-friendly and innovative devices."

Many people living with diabetes use insulin and an insulin delivery device as part of their overall treatment plan, which may include other medications, along with a healthy diet and exercise. The Ignite Challenge turns to innovators to submit ideas that may advance the technology and design of today's insulin delivery devices, while maintaining key factors including reliability, ease of use and aesthetic appeal. The Ignite Challenge will award ten winning submissions $5,000 each for their original ideas.

Challenge concept submissions must meet the following three criteria:

• Accessibility - concept must be usable by a broad population, including the young and old, or people with impaired hand use or vision.
• Appropriateness - concept must be easy to integrate into daily life and be of high quality. Device should be portable and aesthetically pleasing. It has to be recognizable as an injection device, while not appearing overtly medical.
• Functionality - Device must meet functional requirements as a medical tool, should enable accurate delivery, have functionality for extended periods without electricity, and the ability to store more than one dose of insulin per disposable device.

"Sanofi understands the importance of going beyond the molecule to help people manage the complex challenges of diabetes," said Christoph Heinemann, Vice President Strategy and Portfolio Management, Global Diabetes, Sanofi. "While we are committed to our current and award-winning insulin delivery device offerings, we understand the importance of exploring new, innovative approaches that may take years to develop and test but that could provide additional offerings to people living with diabetes."

Over the past few years, innovation challenges have become an integral part of Sanofi's commitment to diabetes care. This year marks the company's third annual Data Design Diabetes™ Innovation Challenge in the U.S., which has a three-part aim: innovation in the quality, delivery, and cost of diabetes care. Sanofi U.S. also developed the Partners in Patient Health Collaborate - Activate Innovation Challenge in 2012, which awarded teams that delivered novel approaches to better engage patients in healthcare. The Ignite Challenge continues this momentum by encouraging the development of solutions that show potential to directly meet patients' needs.

The full timeline for the Ignite Challenge is as follows:

Open Submissions: April 8 - May 10

The Ignite Challenge website is open for submissions and will remain open until May 10, 2013.

Submission Review and Judging: May 13 - May 24

An expert panel of judges will review the Ignite Challenge submissions.

Winner Announcements: May 30

Ten winners will be announced and each awarded $5,000.

About Sanofi Diabetes

Sanofi strives to help people manage the complex challenge of diabetes by delivering innovative, integrated and personalized solutions. Driven by valuable insights that come from listening to and engaging with people living with diabetes, the Company is forming partnerships to offer diagnostics, therapies, services and devices, including intelligent blood glucose monitoring systems. Sanofi markets both injectable and oral medications for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Forward-Looking Statements

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