Sanofi and Medtronic Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a global strategic alliance. The alliance will initially focus on two key priorities: the development of drug-device combinations and delivery of care-management services to improve adherence, simplify insulin treatment, and help people with diabetes better manage their condition.

The alliance will be structured as an open-innovation model, leveraging the capabilities, as well as the human and financial resources, of both companies. Based on the success of the two initial priorities, the companies may explore other areas for potential collaboration.

The alliance will pair Sanofi's extensive insulin portfolio and drug-development expertise with Medtronic's expertise in insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring. One of the priorities of the alliance will be to deliver novel drug-device combinations, including new form factors that are affordable, convenient and easy to-use to increase therapy adherence and deliver better outcomes. These efforts will focus on improving the management of Type 2 diabetes, especially for people who cannot achieve glucose control even with multiple daily injections of insulin.

Care-management services, another priority area for collaboration, will be delivered through a program designed to guide people with Type 2 diabetes who are failing to achieve disease control on oral therapies through the initiation phase of insulin treatment. Insulin initiation can be challenging as a high number of patients drop insulin treatment in this early phase.

Sanofi and Medtronic already have an agreement in place serving specific Type 1 diabetes patients in Europe with an implantable insulin delivery system, and intend to add this project and additional innovative projects to the alliance. Implementation of the alliance is subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement between the companies.

Source: Sanofi