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Sanofi — Environmental & Social Information 2013
Oct 15, 2013
1643_iss_2013-10-15_8922ab11-b0b9-45a6-9fef-865d7ae77565.pdf
Environmental & Social Information
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Sanofi Hosts French President François Hollande at Facility in South Africa
- French Leader visits antituberculosis and antiretroviral drugs manufacturing plant based in Waltloo, Pretoria -
Paris, France and Pretoria, South Africa - October 15, 2013 - French President François Hollande today visited Sanofi's Waltloo industrial manufacturing plant in Pretoria, South Africa, accompanied by a delegation of ministers, members of Parliament and business leaders.
The Waltloo facility produces and distributes tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS treatments for South Africa and exports antituberculosis drugs to Sub Saharan Africa, Europe, South America, Thailand, Middle East and Australia.
"We are very honored by this visit which demonstrates the support of President Hollande and his administration for our industry," said Philippe Luscan, Excecutive Vice President, Global Industrial Affairs, Sanofi. "By making Waltloo a world center in the fight against two epidemic diseases, namely tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, in one of the countries most affected by these, Sanofi is demonstrating our strong commitment to South Africa and addressing important public health priorities."
In 2012, Sanofi signed an agreement to partner with Hetero for an antiretroviral (ARV) product portfolio manufactured locally by Sanofi. The objective is to deliver quality ARV products at affordable prices and increase the manufacturing offer for ARV products in South Africa. These initiatives are aligned to the government's National Industrial Policy, where the pharmaceutical industry has been identified as a strategic sector for economic growth. The expansion at the Waltloo facility has allowed Sanofi to retain and create new employment opportunities, through skills development initiatives and skills transfer programmes.
Over the past seven years, Sanofi successfully implemented the TB FREE project in partnership with the Ministry of Health of South Africa through a donation of € 15 million by Sanofi. The TB FREE initiative supported the Department of Heath's TB Control Program by training over 55,000 Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) supporters who assist TB patients to ensure adherence and completion of their TB treatment, TB education and awareness campaigns. The second phase of the project was launched in 2012 under the name INHIBIT TB, a program to screen family contacts of people diagnosed with TB in their homes. This project involves care workers going to the homes of TB patients and offering family members an opportunity to be screened for TB and HIV.
Sanofi has been present in South Africa for more than 50 years and has a workforce of approximately 800 people, including 260 at the Waltloo site.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, an integrated global 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).
Contacts:
Laurence Bollack Sébastien Martel [email protected] [email protected]