Sanofi-aventis has been awarded the 2010 Global Business Coalition Core Compentence Award, for its innovative Malaria Access to Medicines partnership programme with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). Each year, the Global Business Coalition honours global pioneers in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The prize will be awarded to sanofi-aventis in Washington, USA, on June 8, 2010.

Sanofi-aventis won the Core Competence award for this partnership with DNDi to develop and distribute the anti-malarial treatment, Coarsucam/ Artesunate Amodiaquine Winthrop (ASAQ). ASAQ is the first anti-malarial treatment to be specifically targeted at some of the poorest patients living in sub-saharan Africa, and in particular children. Provided at low cost – less than 1 US$ for an adult treatment and less than 0.50 US$ for children – to non-profit institutions, ASAQ is designed to improve patient compliance and reduce the risk of malaria parasites developing resistance to the disease. ASAQ was pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008 and, since then, more than 50 million ASAQ treatments have been distributed in sub-saharan African countries.

“The ASAQ development partnership demonstrates sanofi-aventis’ commitment to protecting health and serving the needs of patients across the world. It is an example to everyone of the benefits we can achieve for patients by working in partnership and pooling our expertise, knowledge and resources in pursuit of a shared goal. I am proud to accept this award on behalf of sanofi-aventis and our partners at DNDi,” said Dr Robert Sebbag, vice president, Access to Medicines, sanofi-aventis.

Global Business Coalition CEO, John Todstrom, acknowledged the importance and success of the programme, “Business is indispensable in the fight against diseases like malaria. The reach, infrastructure, and competencies of the private sector - honed amid the demands of global competitiveness - are powerful assets. The sanofi-aventis ASAQ programme has produced real results in helping to address one the three greatest threats of our time. We congratulate them on their richly deserved success.”

Commenting on the award, Dr Bernard Pecoul, DNDi executive director, said, “ASAQ provides a true innovation in patient treatment. We are proud of the role DNDi played in developing the new treatment but above all this project shows what can be achieved by working together. We are delighted that this innovative partnership with sanofi-aventis has received the recognition it deserves through this award.”