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When will drug development have its ChatGPT moment? Inside ambitious AI initiatives at Sanofi and Medable

In episode 4 of Ai Meets Life Sci, Kayleen Brown, managing editor at DeviceTalks and Brian Buntz, pharma and biotech editor, chat with Helen Merianos, Ph.D., head of R+D portfolio strategy at Sanofi and Michelle Longmire, MD, CEO of Medable. The focus? The two-fold application of AI in their respective companies’ technologies, both for scientific advancement and business productivity, were central themes. Sanofi is applying AI across the company, encouraging an inquisitive culture around product development. AI also aids in making more data-driven investments across various domains. Medable is tapping AI to build a culture of invention as decentralized clinical trials become more operationalized and scalable.

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Sanofi embraces AI for improved decision-making

In a June 2023 press rele…

Sanofi offers a year of salary to employees facing cancer, critical illnesses

French pharma giant Sanofi launched a new global program aimed at providing financial, social and emotional assistance to employees diagnosed with cancer or other critical illnesses.

Dubbed “Cancer & Work: Acting Together,” the program guarantees continued salary and benefits for up to one year for affected staff regardless of role or location. It also incorporates flexible work options to help employees balance treatment with their responsibilities.

“The last thing you want to be thinking about when diagnosed with cancer is work,” said Natalie Bickford, Sanofi’s Chief People Officer, in a statement. “I am delighted that Sanofi has gone further, guaranteeing job security and salary continuation for at least a year after diagnosis.”

Program offers more than financial support

In addition to the financial safeguards, the program provides access to trained volunteer employees who have dealt with cancer themselves and can offer advice and support. Psychol…

Report: Pharma kicks off year with drug price hikes

Image from https://torange.biz/medications-big-money-19928

Reuters reports that a number of big-name drugmakers, including Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda plan to raise drug prices to start the year.

According to the report, the price hikes apply to more than 500 drugs. Excluding different doses and formulations, the reach extends to more than 140 brands of drugs. Reuters said healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors analyzed data that uncovered these increases.

This move comes just weeks after the Biden Administration signaled its intent to target the pricing of dozens of prescription drugs. The Administration announced a strategy under the Inflation Reduction Act to focus on 48 Medicare Part B drugs that have raise…

From Silicon Valley to the lab of tomorrow: Synfini’s leap to large chemistry models

Conceptual visualization of a molecular structure, not representative of a specific molecule. [Image courtesy of Adobe Stock]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2020, the storied Silicon Valley institution SRI International secured a $4.3 million DARPA contract to develop a tool for generating therapeutic small molecules to combat biological threats. Not just known for innovations like the computer mouse and Siri, SRI International is also responsible for Synfini, a multimodal chemistry model akin to large language models like ChatGPT. In September 2023, the company spun out Synfini as an independent entity.

“The core group and project started about seven years ago at SRI International, and began as part of the DARPA Make-It program,” said Peter Madrid, co-founder and head of scientific development at Synfini. DARPA’s Make-It initiative aimed to automate small molecule discovery and synthesis. Thanks to the su…

Novartis’s Sandoz spin-off and Sanofi’s portfolio slim-down reflect pharma push toward specialization

[Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock]

Modern pharma: Evolving through specialized strategies

The pharmaceutical trend toward increasing concentration appears to be gaining momentum. On September 15, Novartis shareholders approved the company’s proposed spinoff of Sandoz, the generics and biosimilars unit. The company anticipates the deal to close in early October. Similarly, Sanofi is also taking a scalpel to its operations, offloading a selection of its central nervous system medications to Pharmanovia.

Sanofi, similar to several other of its pharma peers, is aiming to realign its portfolio, emphasizing areas where it can drive innovation and deliver robust growth.

Last week, Johnson & Johnson, for instance, announced a rebrand that traded its historic ‘Janssen’ pharma moniker for ‘Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.’ The move is part of a broader initiative to priorit…

Sanofi ALTUVIIIO hemophilia A treatment: FDA accepts sBLA based on pediatric phase 3 data

[Keitma/Adobe Stock]

The FDA has accepted Sanofi’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for ALTUVIIIO, a novel, high-sustained factor VIII replacement therapy for adults and children with hemophilia A. The FDA based the decision on positive final data from the pivotal Phase 3 XTEND-Kids trial in children under 12 with hemophilia A.

ALTUVIIIO (efanesoctocog alfa) is the first Factor VIII replacement therapy to offer bleed protection with once-weekly dosing. In February, Sanofi announced that FDA had approved the drug for routine prophylaxis and on-demand treatment to control bleeding episodes. Its use also extends to perioperative management (surgery) for adults and children with hemophilia A.

Sanofi developed in collaboration with Sobi. Barclays projects that the drug will top €2 billion in peak sales.

Supportive findings from XTEND-kids study

The current FDA approval is supporte…

Research highlights cost savings from DarioHealth digital diabetes therapeutic

DarioHealth (Nasdaq:DRIO) announced today that a new analysis demonstrated a significant cost reduction for users of its digital therapeutic platform.

Sanofi U.S. conducted the analysis, which showed lower costs of care for DarioHealth users compared to non-users with type 2 diabetes. The study used matched claims to show an estimated $5,077 in medical cost savings for the DarioHealth users.

Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.

Sanofi puts AI ‘Plai’ app at the center of drug discovery and clinical trial operations

[Keitma/Adobe Stock]

The French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has unveiled a new AI-powered app called Plai, developed in partnership with AI platform Aily Labs. This move is part of Sanofi’s plan to become the pioneer in fully integrating AI into all operations, according to CEO Paul Hudson.

Plai, designed to compile and process Sanofi’s internal data from various departments, creates bespoke “what if” scenarios to guide decision-making. Sanofi aims to exploit Plai’s analytical capabilities to enhance strategic planning.

From ChatGPT and Google Maps to Plai

Sanofi’s AI aspirations are longstanding. In 2022, the company launched its inaugural digital accelerator, supporting the adoption of digital, data and AI across operations. That same year, Sanofi acquired Amunix Pharmaceuticals, tapping its AI technology to develop targeted cancer therapies that spare healthy tissue.…

The recent FDA thumbs-up for Beyfortus could kickstart a new chapter in RSV prevention

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and young children. Traditionally there have been no approved treatments for RSV infections, with care being largely supportive. But the landscape is quickly changing.

The FDA recently approved Beyfortus (nirsevimab), the first immunoprophylactic to prevent RSV disease in newborns, infants and toddlers. On the RSV vaccine front, FDA also approved GSK‘s (NYSE:GSK) Arexvy. Other RSV vaccine candidates are waiting in the wings.

A shift in the RSV treatment landscape

Beyfortus is a monoclonal antibody developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi that provides protection against RSV with a single intramuscular injection. It is the first innovation in RSV prevention in over two decades. Until recently, the only preventive therapy on the market was Synagis, a monoclonal antibody used to help prevent serious lung disease from RSV in …

Sanofi, Merck and Novartis top pharma M&A in recent years

Despite a temporary slowdown during the early days of the pandemic, the pharma sector has witnessed a steady rise in M&A activity over the years. The number of deals climbed from 23 in 2018 to 43 in 2022. Major players driving this trend include Sanofi, Merck & Co. and Novartis. Those three players have made significant acquisitions to bolster core assets and capabilities in specialized areas such as immunology, oncology and gene therapy.

For instance, in 2022, Merck acquired Prometheus Biosciences for $11 billion to strengthen its presence in immunology, while Sanofi purchased Provention Bio for roughly $2.9 billion to add a first-in-class therapy for type 1 diabetes. Novartis has also been on the hunt, with approximately $31 billion in deals since 2018 that have strengthened its Innovative Medicines portfolio.

Bar chart showing the top 10 most active pharmaceutical companies in M&A activity fr…

Sanofi bets on AI-powered decision making

Unveiling Sanofi’s AI-powered pharma strategy, the French pharma giant announced its plans to tap AI for insights across the company. With “plai,” an internal app, AI is utilized to provide real-time data supporting decision-making.

Sanofi’s goal, as CEO Paul Hudson stated in a news release, is to become the first pharma company powered by AI at scale, “giving our people tools to make better everyday decisions.”

How Sanofi’s AI-powered pharma strategy compares to other industry moves

Several other companies have initiated similar AI-powered moves over the years. For instance, in December 2016, Pfizer and IBM inked a deal to use IBM Watson for drug discovery in immuno-oncology. Roche has explored using machine learning for diabetes diagnostics while companies like Novartis have advertised hundreds of AI hires in recent years.

Challenges of AI in healthcare and Sanofi’s AI-powered pharma strategy

Yet, deploying AI in healthcare sett…

An overview of the RSV vaccine candidate landscape in early 2023

[RSV image from NIAID]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a prominent global health concern. Each year, the virus is to blame for 2.1 million outpatient visits for children under 5 years old, according to CDC. Other vulnerable populations, including older adults and immunocompromised individuals, are also at risk.

Nevertheless, RSV has long been a research focus. Scientists first identified RSV in 1956. A year later, the pediatrician and virologist Robert M. Chanock linked RSV to respiratory infections in children. Attempts to develop a vaccine for the virus soon followed.

Despite numerous attempts beginning in the 1960s, an FDA-approved RSV vaccine has remained elusive until recently. Out front is GSK’s (NYSE:GSK) RSV vaccine for adults aged 60 and older, which has won the backing of an FDA advisory panel. Close behind is Pfizer’s (NYSE:PFE) single-dose vaccine for the same a…