Sanofi

As a diversified global healthcare leader focused on patients’ needs, Sanofi is morally and legally obligated to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of its medicines, vaccines, medical devices, and consumer healthcare products. Besides the regulatory requirements and beyond the compliance, the responsible use of animals is essential in the research and production process. Animals remain a small but an integral part of a comprehensive research and testing strategy that includes non-animal methods and clinical research. In respect with its societal responsibility, Sanofi commits to meet the highest standards and to be open on the conditions of care and use of animals and the global reduction effort.

In respect with its societal responsibility, Sanofi commits to meet the highest standards and to be open on the conditions of care and use of animals and the global reduction effort.

Research involving animals poses dilemmas not only for scientists who use animals in medical research but also for society as a whole. At Sanofi, the consensus is that using animals for research is justified when there are clear benefits for human health and when the 3Rs principles (replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use) are fully applied.

We need to be clear about the current use of animals and the global reduction efforts. For instance, the factsheet which has been available in Sanofi.com for the last 6 years, is updated on a yearly basis. We share our policies, the number and the purpose of animal use and a lot of examples of the 3Rs. This is one of the most downloaded factsheets of the document center, without any drawbacks.

We need to be clear about the current use of animals and the global reduction efforts.

We have realized that employees are proud to share good practices and to explain all initiatives to go to global reduction, and, when animals are required, to provide them with the best possible care. Animal professionals are so dedicated to animal welfare that their compassion is the first message they return back. This is something which is obvious for research animal professionals, but not for the public. Even many of the emplo

yees are not aware about our policy on the protection of animals. We need to let people know about our values.

A Word of Advice

It could be simple, it could be local, but it is always a positive experience.

One does not wake up in the morning and claim ‘from now, we are open’. Openness is a stepwise approach. Choosing the initial topics and the right audience to engage with helps those involved to gain confidence, to prepare the right messages and to address thoughtful and challenging questions. One does not need a formal communication plan to start speaking up. It could be simple, it could be local, but it is always a positive experience.