In 2006 it set up a dedicated “Access to Medicines” department to address this disparity through practical initiatives.

The company has targeted six areas that present serious health care challenges in the world’s southern hemisphere and in which the it has a history of expertise: malaria, tuberculosis, sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, epilepsy and vaccines.

The Access to Medicines department coordinates and implements sanofi-aventis’ initiatives in these areas. Its activities form an integral part of the Group’s business strategy, focusing on:

• A preferential pricing policy (no profit–no loss), based on patients’ ability to pay, that facilitates access to medicines.
• Improvement of existing drugs and treatment strategies through R&D and partnerships with organizations such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
• Information, education and communication initiatives directed to local communities and medical staff.       

The Access to Medicines Department also works closely with the Group’s operational teams, including those in Industrial Affairs and Supply Chain. Its activities are in line with the Group’s sustainable development policy and help ensure continuous employment in the Group’s industrial plants in developing countries.