Sanofi-aventis and MIT agree research collaboration

Sanofi-aventis is to partner with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Biomedical Innovation on a new human health research collaboration.

The partnership will be called the Sanofi-aventis Biomedical Innovation Program (SABIP) and will involve the allocation of funding to MIT scientists conducting innovative research into potential healthcare solutions.

It is hoped that this will provide Sanofi-aventis with opportunities to develop new therapeutic and diagnostic products, as well as promoting scientific exchange between the two bodies.

Marc Cluzel, executive vice-president of research and development at Sanofi-aventis, said this pooling of expertise is likely to benefit patients in the future.

He added: “As Sanofi-aventis continues to transform the focus beyond pharmaceuticals to patient healthcare integrated solutions, collaborations like SABIP that promote the exchange of scientific knowledge between academia and industry will play a key role.”

Last week, Sanofi-aventis announced that Jean-Francois Dehecq has stepped down from its board of directors, with the firm subsequently naming him honorary chairman.