Sanofi Announces Call for Submissions for Ignite: The Diabetes Ideas Challenge

Paris (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Worldwide invitation to create and submit concepts

for a potential next-generation insulin delivery device -

Sanofi announced today that it is accepting submissions for Ignite:
The Diabetes Ideas Challenge ("Ignite Challenge"). The web-based
Ignite Challenge invites patients, caregivers, designers, engineers,
and innovators from around the globe to submit ideas that could shape
the features and design of a next-generation, insulin delivery device
for people with diabetes. Building on the user experience and
technology advances of the past 30 years, the Ignite Challenge seeks
to address the critical need for innovative, easy-to-use and
cost-effective devices for delivering injectable medications for the
treatment of diabetes.

"Over time and across geographies, we observe a consistent increase
in the use of injectable medications among the more than 370 million
people living with diabetes," said Pierre Chancel, Senior Vice
President, Global Diabetes, Sanofi. "Through innovation challenges
such as the Ignite Challenge, Sanofi hopes to foster creative
thinking and new ideas that may improve the way people manage their
diabetes in the future using patient-friendly and innovative
devices."

Many people living with diabetes use insulin and an insulin delivery
device as part of their overall treatment plan, which may include
other medications, along with a healthy diet and exercise. The Ignite
Challenge turns to innovators to submit ideas that may advance the
technology and design of today's insulin delivery devices, while
maintaining key factors including reliability, ease of use and
aesthetic appeal. The Ignite Challenge will award ten winning
submissions $5,000 each for their original ideas.

Challenge concept submissions must meet the following three criteria:

- Accessibility - concept must be usable by a broad population, 
including
  the young and old, or people with impaired hand use or vision.
- Appropriateness - concept must be easy to integrate into daily life
and be of
  high quality. Device should be portable and aesthetically pleasing.
It has to be
  recognizable as an injection device, while not appearing overtly 
medical.
- Functionality - Device must meet functional requirements as a 
medical tool,
  should enable accurate delivery, have functionality for extended 
periods without
  electricity, and the ability to store more than one dose of insulin
per disposable
  device.

"Sanofi understands the importance of going beyond the molecule to
help people manage the complex challenges of diabetes," said
Christoph Heinemann, Vice President Strategy and Portfolio
Management, Global Diabetes, Sanofi. "While we are committed to our
current and award-winning insulin delivery device offerings, we
understand the importance of exploring new, innovative approaches
that may take years to develop and test but that could provide
additional offerings to people living with diabetes."

Over the past few years, innovation challenges have become an
integral part of Sanofi's commitment to diabetes care. This year
marks the company's third annual Data Design Diabetes(TM) Innovation
Challenge in the U.S., which has a three-part aim: innovation in the
quality, delivery, and cost of diabetes care. Sanofi U.S. also
developed the Partners in Patient Health Collaborate - Activate
Innovation Challenge in 2012, which awarded teams that delivered
novel approaches to better engage patients in healthcare. The Ignite
Challenge continues this momentum by encouraging the development of
solutions that show potential to directly meet patients' needs.

The full timeline for the Ignite Challenge is as follows:

Open Submissions: April 8 - May 10

The Ignite Challenge website [http://www.igniteideaschallenge.com ]
is open for submissions and will remain open until May 10, 2013.

Submission Review and Judging: May 13 - May 24

An expert panel of judges will review the Ignite Challenge
submissions.

Winner Announcements: May 30

Ten winners will be announced and each awarded $5,000.

About Sanofi Diabetes

Sanofi strives to help people manage the complex challenge of
diabetes by delivering innovative, integrated and personalized
solutions. Driven by valuable insights that come from listening to
and engaging with people living with diabetes, the Company is forming
partnerships to offer diagnostics, therapies, services and devices,
including intelligent blood glucose monitoring systems. Sanofi
markets both injectable and oral medications for people with type 1
or type 2 diabetes.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified 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 and in New
York .

Forward-Looking Statements

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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, 2012. 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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