Sanofi reinforces its presence in Morocco
- Inauguration of a new EUR20 million logistics platform
-Three collaboration agreements signed with the Ministries of Industry and Health
Paris, France - April 17, 2013 - Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today the opening of its new logistics hub in Casablanca, Morocco, during a ceremony attended by Christopher A. Viehbacher, CEO of Sanofi, Mahsoussi El Aid, General Secretary of Trade, Ministry of Trade, Industry and New Technologies, and El Houssaine Louardi, Minister of Health of the Kingdom
of Morocco.
During the ceremony, Sanofi-Aventis Maroc, Sanofi-Aventis Group, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and New Technologies, and the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Morocco also signed three collaboration agreements intended to improve the care of patients with type I diabetes, those suffering from mental disorders and epilepsy, and training for careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
"I am very pleased to inaugurate the new Sanofi logistics hub in Morocco,
which represents an investment of EUR20 million. It will become the largest distribution center for Sanofi's pharmaceutical products on the African continent," said Christopher A. Viehbacher, CEO of Sanofi. "As medicines alone cannot fight such diseases as diabetes, mental disorders and epilepsy, the collaborations signed today reinforce Sanofi's commitment in building major programs with stakeholders in the public and private sectors to provide solutions for prevention, awareness and diagnosis for the benefit of patients."
Sanofi has been present in Morocco for over 50 years and is the market leader in the country.
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About the new logistics platform Ain Sebâa - Casablanca, Morocco
The new Sanofi distribution center in Morocco covers an area of nearly 12,000 square meters and has a capacity for 14,500 pallets. It handles 1,300 product references produced by the Moroccan subsidiary, both exported to sub-Saharan Africa and destined for the Moroccan and import market. This state-of-the-art distribution center combines new technologies, advanced services and respect for the environment.
About the collaboration agreements
The collaboration agreement entered into between Sanofi-Aventis Maroc and the Ministry of Health, signed for a period of three years, will be devoted to type I diabetes, with the aim of developing standard care protocols for children and adolescents with diabetes. This will involve the introduction of a standardized therapeutic education program, upgrading the eleven existing centers for pediatric diabetology consultation, creating two new centers in Oujda and Agadir, and training health professionals and paramedical staff to take care of children and adolescents with diabetes.
The second collaboration agreement entered into between Sanofi-Aventis Group (in particular the Access to medicines department), Sanofi-Aventis Maroc and the Ministry of Health, for a term of five years, will be devoted to mental disorders and epilepsy. The aim is to reinforce care facilities for people with these diseases in Morocco by training 40 psychiatrists, 40 neurologists, 160 general practitioners (GPs) and 160 nurses, and raising awareness about these conditions among the Moroccan people.
Under the third collaboration agreement entered into between Sanofi-Aventis Maroc, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and New Technologies and the Ministry of Health, Sanofi-Aventis Maroc will contribute to the National Contract Program which outlines a general framework for the development of the Moroccan pharmaceutical industry. Sanofi-Aventis Maroc will provide with the training of agents, technicians and managers working in the Ministry of Health in connection with careers in the pharmaceutical industry and more specifically with respect to Best Distribution Practices, Health, Safety and the Environment, and supply chain.
About Sanofi in Morocco
Sanofi has been present in Morocco for over 50 years and is the market leader in the country. It has a workforce of 900 people, including the Maphar production site, a pharmaceutical development center, and a new logistics platform. The Maphar production site, located in Zenata, Casablanca, is certified by the World Health Organization and produced 70 million units in 2012, including 20 million units of the malaria treatment ASAQ Winthrop(r). Sanofi's activities in Morocco include registering, producing, distributing and marketing pharmaceutical products (including innovative, traditional, and generic medicines, vaccines and consumer-health products) as well as dietary
products and medical devices.www.sanofi.ma, www.maphar.ma
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
(EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). www.sanofi.com
Contacts:
Press Relations Investor Relations
Frédéric Lemonde-San Sébastien Martel
Tel.: + (33) 1 53 77 91 55 Tel.: + (33) 1 53 77 45 45
frederic.lemonde @ sanofi.com [email protected]