Sanofi has launched a Translational Centre of Excellence, in partnership with the Immun4Cure University Hospital Institute in Montpellier, dedicated to the development of treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. This structure places the patient at the heart of the Research and Development (R&D) process, from the earliest phases to advanced clinical trials. This five-year strategic partnership unites the strengths of Sanofi with those of the Montpellier ecosystem of excellence—IHU Immun4Cure, Montpellier University Hospital, INSERM and the University of Montpellier—to accelerate discoveries in immunology and consolidate French leadership in this therapeutic field.

Speaking in this regard, Houman Ashrafian, Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development, Sanofi, said, “The inauguration of this Translational Centre of Excellence is a strategic lever to accelerate and transform research in the field of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It stands out for its integrated approach, combining the clinical expertise of the IHU with Sanofi’s development capabilities, while involving patients very early on, thus creating an effective continuum between basic research and therapeutic applications. This original structure is a new illustration of our innovation in R&D and serves our immunology strategy.”

Given the prevalence of autoimmune diseases, this centre aims to focus its activities on major pathologies, notably Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and lupus, chronic diseases that affect millions of people worldwide and for which medical needs remain considerable. The ambition of Sanofi and the partners of the Translational Centre of Excellence is to be able to launch initial clinical studies in these diseases by the end of 2026.

With dozens of Sanofi researchers working alongside experts from the IHU Immun4Cure, this Translational Centre of Excellence is transforming the traditional approach to pharmaceutical R&D through privileged access to unique biological and clinical resources. This alliance, which combines fundamental research, clinical expertise and patient experience, aims to significantly reduce the development time for new immunology treatments. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of autoimmune diseases will enable the design of more targeted therapies that precisely meet patient needs.

This new Translational Centre of Excellence illustrates Sanofi's long-standing commitment to the French scientific ecosystem, with more than 100 active public-private partnerships including hospitals, universities and start-ups. This collaborative approach is in line with its key partnerships, notably as a founding member of the Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC) in the field of oncology and the Marseille Immunology Biocluster (MIB) in the field of immunology.

The Montpellier Translational Centre of Excellence, which draws on Sanofi's capabilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based data generation and analysis and decision science, thus becomes a model of synergy between public research and the pharmaceutical industry. Beyond accelerating the development of new therapeutic solutions, this centre also integrates an entrepreneurial dimension through support for innovative start-ups and invests in the training of a new generation of immunology experts through exchange programmes between Sanofi and the IHU Immun4Cure.

With this Translational Centre of Excellence, Sanofi strengthens France's position at the heart of its global R&D transformation and actively contributes to France's scientific attractiveness in the field of immunology.