[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING SANOFI'S PENNSYLVANIA EMPLOYEES

  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the contributions to 
global public health by the Pennsylvania employees of Sanofi. 
Yesterday, at the White House, they were presented with the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office's Patent for Humanity award, in recognition of the 
development of a patented chemical and industrial process for producing 
semi-synthetic artemisinin, which is used in the creation of 
combination therapies, ACTs, treating malaria.
  Malaria is one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world, 
with 200 million cases in almost 100 countries. In 2013, an estimated 
584,000 people died from malaria. This parasitic infection most 
significantly burdens countries with the highest rates of poverty. In 
Africa, where 90 percent of all malaria cases occur, one child dies 
every minute from the condition.
  Artemisinin is an important antimalarial drug derived from the sweet 
wormwood plant in Asia and Africa, but weather and other factors can 
yield an uncertain supply of natural artemisinin, threatening patients' 
access. Thus, developing semi-synthetic artemisinin will enable a 
stable supply of high-quality medication at affordable prices on a no-
profit, no-loss model, lead to a stronger supply chain, and place more 
ACTs in the hands of the most vulnerable patients. Sanofi hopes to 
produce annually an average of 50 to 60 tons of artemisinin, which will 
produce 80 to 150 million ACT treatments.
  This project to produce semi-synthetic artemisinin began in 2007, and 
involves a partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the 
University of California Berkeley, the global health charity PATH, 
Sanofi, and Amirys. I would like to commend in particular Alain Werner, 
Robert Sebbag, and Philippe Charreau of Sanofi who led the 
organization's work on this important project. Sanofi's achievement is 
only one example of a rich history of dedicating its resources to 
combat the world's most deadly diseases. Their work on malaria dates 
back to the 1930s. More recently, Sanofi, which has 112,000 employees 
and retains core strengths in human vaccines, animal health, consumer 
healthcare, diabetes, and rare diseases, created its Access to 
Medicines program to improve access to healthcare in the poorest 
countries.
  As the Senate continues to work on legislation to speed the 
development of therapies, I ask my colleagues keep in mind the 
important incentives and intellectual property protections that 
encourage scientists, such as those responsible for this breakthrough, 
to create lifesaving medicines for patients worldwide.

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