CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi
Genzyme, the specialty care global business unit of Sanofi, today announced the extension of the Multiple Myeloma Journey
Partners Program that leverages storytelling as a tool to improve the patient experience with multiple myeloma. Journey Partners
are multiple myeloma patients that have experienced similar emotions, faced the same challenges and asked the same questions
about living with the disease. The goal is to increase reach and awareness in order to host more programs, and educate more
patients and caregivers in local communities across the country.
"Sanofi Genzyme created the Multiple Myeloma Journey Partners Program to let multiple myeloma patients know they are not
alone and to provide educational resources and services that help patients and families navigate their journey to achieve the
best possible outcomes," says Bhavesh Ashar, Vice President and General Manager of US
Oncology, Sanofi Genzyme. "As a company, we value the importance of taking a holistic approach to patient care and
transforming the patient experience. There's a real power in telling and listening to personal narratives. It helps increase the
knowledge base of patients and caregivers, and makes them feel supported."
The Multiple Myeloma Journey Partners program is a free one-hour educational seminar. The program gives people with multiple
myeloma and their caregivers an opportunity to hear a Journey Partner share his or her unique patient journey with multiple
myeloma and experience undergoing an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), considered a first-line treatment and the standard
of care for treating multiple myeloma in eligible patients. During the session, patients and caregivers will also learn about
helpful resources and the importance of considering a transplant evaluation.
According to John Killip, a Multiple Myeloma Journey Partner, "It was conversations with my
support group, family and healthcare providers that influenced my decision to have a stem cell transplant in 2008 when I was
first diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 65. Mentoring other myeloma patients is one of the highlights of my life and
I became a Journey Partner to share my story and help others with multiple myeloma make sense of the diagnosis and overcome the
fear of the unknown."
For information or to request a program in your area please visit www.mmjourneypartners.com. Also, patients interested in becoming a Multiple Myeloma Journey Partner can
contact the program coordinator listed on the website.
About Multiple Myeloma
The second most common cancer of the blood, multiple myeloma is a cancer that starts in plasma cells, a type of white
blood cell. In time, myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow. They may damage the solid part of the bone, and eventually harm
other tissues and organs, such as the kidneys. Worldwide, nearly 230,000 people are living with multiple myeloma, and each year,
approximately 114,000 new cases are diagnosed.
About ASCT
In an autologous transplant, a patient's own blood-forming stem cells are collected. He or she is then treated with
high dose chemotherapy, or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. The high-dose treatment kills cancer cells, but also
eliminates the blood-producing cells that are left in the bone marrow. Afterward, the collected stem cells are transplanted back
into the patient, allowing the bone marrow to produce new blood cells.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients'
needs. Sanofi is organized into five global business units: Diabetes and Cardiovascular, General Medicines and Emerging Markets,
Sanofi Genzyme, Sanofi Pasteur and Consumer Healthcare. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT:
SAN) and in
New York (NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi Genzyme focuses on developing specialty treatments for debilitating diseases that are often difficult to diagnose and
treat, providing hope to patients and their families.
Genzyme® is a registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation. Sanofi® is a registered trademark
of Sanofi. All rights reserved.
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
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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,
Sanofi's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities and/or obtain regulatory clearances, risks associated with
intellectual property and any related pending or future litigation and the ultimate outcome of such litigation,
trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, volatile economic conditions, the impact of cost containment initiatives
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,
2016. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking information or statements.
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SOURCE Sanofi