Genzyme,
a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), today recognizes World
MS Day, an initiative developed by the Multiple Sclerosis International
Federation (MSIF) to raise awareness of MS and its impact on the lives
of more than two million people around the world. With two
differentiated MS therapies and a research pipeline focused on
innovative approaches to treating the disease, Genzyme has a long-term
commitment to the MS community.
“World MS Day recognizes the significance of MS on a global scale, and
it’s an important reminder of the challenges faced by everyone affected
by this devastating disease,” said Bill Sibold, Genzyme’s Senior Vice
President and Head of MS. “We’re inspired every day by people living MS
and the people who care for them, and we’re constantly pushing ourselves
to transform what it means to receive an MS diagnosis.”
Genzyme sites around the world are partnering with local patient
organizations on a variety of World MS Day activities. Genzyme supports
people living with MS through grants and partnerships intended to
address a range of unmet needs. This year, the company has provided
funding to more than 70 organizations in support of more than 200
patient advocacy projects. Key 2014 grants and partnerships include:
Shift.ms: Genzyme is partnering with this social network, which
is focused on reducing isolation and increasing support for people
living with MS. The company is sponsoring efforts by Shift.ms to gather
information from people with MS in many different parts of the world
about their approach to living with the disease, with the goal of
enabling members of the community to compare experiences and learn from
each other.
EU Nurse Advisory Board: The goal of this initiative is to
increase knowledge about multiple sclerosis among nurses in Europe.
Genzyme is partnering with the International Organization of Multiple
Sclerosis Nurses and the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform to host a
nurse advisory board focused on providing more specialized education for
European nurses who care for MS patients. The company has also supported
work to translate multiple sclerosis nurse training modules so they may
be utilized across the EU.
“I Ride with MS”: Genzyme is the lead sponsor of the “I Ride with
MS” program from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) which
creates awareness of people living with MS who ride in the NMSS’s Bike
MS events around the country. The initiative was piloted last year at 15
Bike MS events, and has been expanded this year to include all 100 rides
across the United States.
Swim for MS: In collaboration with the Multiple Sclerosis
Association of America, Genzyme is sponsoring this campaign to raise
awareness and understanding of water-based exercise programs as a
wellness opportunity for the MS community. The program features personal
stories from people living with MS about how water activities have
impacted their lives. Swim for MS's online Aquatic Center provides
print, video and web-based resources developed with the help of experts
in aquatic exercise, rehabilitation therapy and MS. It also features
personal stories from people with MS about how water activities have
positively impacted their lives.
MSIF Grants: Genzyme has provided a communications grant to MSIF,
which supports upgrades to the organization’s website, newsletters and
other publications, to help ensure it is most effectively sharing
information with the MS community. Genzyme has also provided a grant to
support the MSIF’s World MS Day awareness activities.
Genzyme is proud to be a sponsor of World MS Day, which this year is
focused on access – whether it is access to healthcare, support, work or
study, there are many barriers to access that people living with MS face
every day. MSIF is collecting “One Day” wishes from the community, to
raise awareness about the challenges facing MS patients. Genzyme is
participating in this campaign by creating “Wish Walls” at its sites
globally, where employees can post their personal wishes. Visit the
World MS Day website, www.worldmsday.org,
to see wishes from advocates and people living with MS around the world.
About Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Genzyme has pioneered the development and delivery of transformative
therapies for patients affected by rare and debilitating diseases for
over 30 years. We accomplish our goals through world-class research and
with the compassion and commitment of our employees. With a focus on
rare diseases and multiple sclerosis, we are dedicated to making a
positive impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve. That
goal guides and inspires us every day. Genzyme’s portfolio of
transformative therapies, which are marketed in countries around the
world, represents groundbreaking and life-saving advances in medicine.
As a Sanofi company, Genzyme benefits from the reach and resources of
one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared
commitment to improving the lives of patients. Learn more at www.genzyme.com.
Genzyme® is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes
therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core
strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms:
diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer
healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi
is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts.
These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying
assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and
expectations with respect to future financial results, events,
operations, services, product development and potential, and statements
regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally
identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”,
“estimates”, “plans” and similar expressions. Although Sanofi’s
management believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that
forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks
and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally
beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and
developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or
projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These
risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties
inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis,
including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as
the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug,
device or biological application that may be filed for any such product
candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other
matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of
such product candidates, the absence of guarantee that the product
candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future
approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group’s
ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, trends in
exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, the impact of cost
containment policies and subsequent changes thereto, the average number
of shares outstanding as well as those discussed or identified in the
public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those
listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements” in Sanofi’s annual report on Form 20-F for
the year ended December 31, 2013. Other than as required by applicable
law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking information or statements.
Copyright Business Wire 2014