Name: Sanofi CEO on partnerships and timeline to find the coronavirus cure
Uploaded: 2020-04-01
Duration: 7 min 5 s
Description: Sanofi is working with Regeneron and BARDA to create effective treatments.

[ MUSIC ] Hi Paul, so good to see you. Thank you so much for joining us from Paris for this virtual interview so that we can discuss the research that's Sanofi is doing to combat Corona virus and actually, I understand that you just announced a collaboration with an American biotech company translate bio to develop a vaccine. How promising is this project or is it too soon for us to get our hopes up? It is quite big news because it takes normally 10 years to make a vaccine. And our collaboration with translate bio goes on top of collaboration we have with BARDA. We're all shots on goal right now, different mechanisms, different players, so that we can get there in 12 to 18 months max. So in case this thing, circles background, we're ready Actually you are collaborating on a lot of projects. Tell us about your partnership with Regeneron pharmaceuticals and the drug that you are already testing in clinical trials. Yes, so we are underway and have in excess of 100 patients already in clinical trials on Kevzara for use in the most severe setting for those with coded nine mean it's a very productive long time collaboration with regeneron. And it's very interesting. You can see us or here as late at night planning clinical studies, how to do it how to get medicine, to hospitals to make sure patients get it. We hope there is small evidence and we want to hope and prove in a very fast Timeline just weeks that it can make a difference to those pre ventilation and it can really do something to get them off oxygen we will find out but we're mobilized. Everybody's on it 24 seven and if it works, we'll be well placed to try and bring it to as many people, Patients as possible .>> The other drug, Paul, that is getting a lot of attention is hydroxychloroquine. This is an anti- malarial drug that Sanofi makes and sells. Do you think that really could be a cure For Corona virus well is to say, but I do know if you look at the data some patients have did very well and some haven't. But we have to be optimistic. Just to give you a sense of context. I was at our distribution center last week, with the permission of the French government. I was allowed to go and visit it. To see it being packed in readiness, because if it works, we must be ready. And so we're all hands on deck doing everything we can, You know, everyone is looking for that silver bullet that's gonna solve the problem and your scientists at Sanofi are working very hard. They're very smart. What is it gonna take, how long is it gonna take for, wherever it is, any drug company around the world, to come up with a cure? We're hearing sometimes a year, two years, what is your timetable? So in terms of cures, it is the two years, three years, whatever it may be. It's at the moment, as you've already pointed out. It's about taking existing medicines, where we understand the medicine and really applying them. Vaccines is really the big hope. And, we're one of the biggest and proudest and oldest vaccine companies in the world. And we're running two different programs. Now the Translate bio program we mentioned, and a small program out of protein sciences that we talked about in a partnership with BARDA. To really go after trying to be able to vaccinate the Healthy People next year. I mean, that's got to be our goal in case this thing comes back around so that we can protect as many people as possible. Paul, it was just six months ago that you became CEO of Sanofi. So you are a new CEO and now you've been hit with this unprecedented pandemic. And you just said a moment ago, that how you You're getting everybody to come together in your company to package these medicines. I understand you've also been doing regular video conference calls with your influence. What's the key thing that you're telling them? When we first met, I was very early into my tenure as CEO and I was explaining how I'd been on a listening tour I'd been around the world I've been trying to establish the dialogue with People. I was doing it I think for the right reasons, but I can tell you it's coming back to me tenfold right now. People are very open to telling me where we need to do more where we can share more, communicate more. They're very open to a two way conversation. People are thanking us for complete transparency right across the organisation. Well, letting people know what we know categorically. And where we have areas of ambiguity and what we think are best guesses. And people just want to be involved and see the thinking evolve. There's a very high degree of trust, and people incredibly purpose driven and even since the time when we last spoke just several months ago, I can feel the purpose of nature. The camaraderie and coming together of the company is really something I've just never seen before. so impressed with how people responding and showing up. That's so good to hear. Paul. So far you have not announced a single layoff at Sanofi. What are you doing to make sure that you can keep everyone working or on the payroll at least So no we haven't and it's certainly our goal not in that situation. We are doing essential work over 90 % of our manufacturing stuff is showing up for work right across the world including France, Italy, Spain. So the purpose driven nature of the shop is so high We are staying very close to everybody and letting them know what they asking them what they need and what we can do to help. But I have to tell you, I've never seen anything like it. For those that are at home and who are homeschooling. You know, I myself, isolated at home and trying to balance those things. We're trying to make sure people's mental health is in good shape. Provide contact dialogue, conversation, SMS, whatever it takes to that people don't feel like they're on their own. And just yesterday, we kicked off the opportunity because people are demanding it some online education to help our organization raise its game to come back stronger. And we are oversubscribed, over 6000 people yesterday, subscribe for an artificial intelligence seminar. Just to keep learning keep get ready for when we come back. That's such an upbeat message and it's so good to hear that but you know these are stressful times especially for a new CEO like you. You are in charge of $ 40 billion company you have a 100, 000 employees who are counting on you. What is the one leadership belief you have that is helping you navigate through this horrible crisis. Cheer, brutal transparency. We're just not hiding anything. We're just putting everything out there. Letting people respond to it, we're answering every question, we're asking questions and we're just making sure that there was no ambiguity for people where there doesn't need to be, people seem to need to know real time. They are reading it, they are seeing it on the news, its being reported. They need to know our view, where we stand and what it's gonna to have an impact. And that's what's motivating people. That's what is keeping everybody close.

Sanofi is working with Regeneron and BARDA to create effective treatments.

Sanofi CEO on partnerships and timeline to find the coronavirus cure

Leadership

Sanofi is working around the clock to create treatments.