In addition, Sanofi will provide funding and scientific inputs into projects of mutual interest, crossing multiple therapeutic areas including autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions.
Paris-headquartered Sanofi and California’s Stanford Medicine will create a Joint Steering Committee to fund up to three programs a year. An annual research forum for researchers from both organizations will help further exchange ideas, share knowledge and perspectives on scientific developments, and discuss collaborative research projects.
The first three research projects of the collaboration have already been set:
- Exploring cytokine crosstalk in type 2 inflammation, specifically examining the impact of Sanofi’s investigational molecules on excessive type 2 inflammation.
- Decoding molecular drivers of effector and suppressor T cells in autoimmunity, to better understand the specific antigens that may cause type 1 diabetes.
- Defining the mechanisms of immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy – with a focus on pneumonitis and inflammatory arthritis – to explore the role of genomics and pathogenic cell identification.
“Together we will explore groundbreaking concepts and obtain deeper insights into underlying inflammatory disease mechanisms,” said Frank Nestle, Global Head of Research and Chief Scientific Officer, Sanofi.
"Sanofi’s collaboration with Stanford University aims to transform how autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions are understood and treated. It will help accelerate our ambitious immunoscience programs as we advance a rich pipeline of first- and best-in-class medicines across key therapeutic areas to address unmet patient needs.”
Lloyd Minor, MD, Dean of the Stanford School of Medicine, added: “The opportunity for long-term collaboration with our colleagues at Sanofi will allow us to explore together new frontiers in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions.”
Sanofi's own immunology and inflammation R&D work focuses on gaining ground in precision immunology: using an array of technologies to investigate common pathways in systemic diseases (such as asthma and atopic dermatitis) and peripheral inflammatory diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis); as well as autoimmune challenges in type 1 diabetes and cancer.