Sanofi enters accord with DNDi to generate new drugs for neglected tropical diseases

French drug major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a not-for-profit development partnership, have announced a three-year research collaboration agreement for the research of new treatments for nine neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), listed by the World Health Organization for which new, adapted, and efficient tools are urgently needed to treat patients in endemic countries.

This accord is built on a history of successful collaboration between Sanofi and DNDi. In the framework of this agreement, Sanofi will initially bring molecules from its libraries into the partnership, while DNDi and Sanofi collaborate in research activities on innovative molecular scaffolds. The core of the agreement lies in the innovative management of intellectual property generated through the collaboration.

The rights to results produced by this partnership will be co-owned by Sanofi and DNDi. The partners will facilitate publication of the results to ensure access to the wider community of researchers focusing on NTDs. The public sector will benefit from the drugs developed through this agreement under the best possible conditions to ease access for patients in all endemic countries, irrespective of their level of economic development.