Sanofi Showcases Innovative Diabetes Care 'China Solution' at the Fifth China International Import Expo

November 6, 2022, Shanghai, China – The theme event "Together for Better Times" was successfully held at the Sanofi booth during the 5th China International Import Expo. At the event, guests discussed the exploration of diabetes diagnosis and treatment in China. With the innovative "China Solution" as the cornerstone, Sanofi is collaborating with industry partners to build a new ecosystem for diabetes management, accompanying 141 million Chinese people with diabetes towards better times.

"Enjoy Good Times Together" Event Site
Always Guarding, Constantly Improving: Innovating for Patients in China

China Has the World's Largest Number of Diabetes Patients, with Significant Unmet Needs Remaining. Currently, diabetes management in China exhibits a "three-lows" situation: awareness rate at 43.3%, treatment rate at 49%, and control rate at 49.4%. The path to effective "glycemic control" remains challenging. Meanwhile, insulin therapy, as one of the primary treatments for diabetes, still faces issues in clinical application in China, such as late initiation, low starting doses, and insufficient dose adjustments.
In 2004, Lantus (insulin glargine U100), the world's first long-acting insulin analog, entered China, guiding people with diabetes into an era of "safe glycemic control" from "intensive glucose lowering," which prioritizes safety to achieve glycemic targets while reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. At the third China International Import Expo in 2020, Toujeo (insulin glargine U300), an ultra-long-acting basal insulin, was introduced to Chinese patients, offering a steady path to "safe glycemic control." After eighteen years in China, insulin glargine has not only been recommended as the preferred initial insulin therapy by authoritative guidelines such as those from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS), but has also accompanied tens of millions of Chinese patients on their journey toward solid "safe glycemic control."

In May this year, China's first insulin bulk procurement was officially implemented, with Lantus and Toujeo successfully included, helping a broader range of patients benefit from high-quality yet affordable treatment options, significantly improving the accessibility and affordability of premium medications. Sanofi also became the only multinational company in the national insulin-specific bulk procurement to have its basal insulin listed in the A-class roster with the widest hospital coverage.
Professor Feng Bo, Director of the Endocrinology Department at Oriental Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, stated: "The train of diabetes management in China has shifted from 'intensive glucose control' to 'safe target achievement,' a transition that would not have been possible without the guidance of expert consensus, the exploration of clinical doctors, and the continuous improvement of patient awareness. This is the result of combined efforts. Innovative treatment solutions like Lantus and Toujeo act as propellers, accelerating the standardization of diabetes diagnosis and treatment in China, assisting clinical doctors and patients in safely controlling blood sugar levels every day and steadily improving quality of life."

Professor Feng Bo Shares How Insulin Glargine Accompanies Chinese Patients on the Steady Path to Safe Blood Sugar Control
This year, the innovative drug SoliquaTM (iGlarLixi, a fixed-ratio combination of insulin glargine and lixisenatide) * made its debut at the CIIE, coming for Chinese patients, balancing efficacy and safety. In the future, it will help China's diabetes management enter a new era of "high-quality target achievement." High-quality target achievement means comprehensive control of patients' blood glucose while maintaining a low risk of hypoglycemia and not increasing body weight.
Professor Yongde Peng, the leader of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Department at the First People's Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, stated: "The upcoming innovative drug iGlarLixi is exciting, as all clinical trial evidence demonstrates its characteristics in achieving 'high-quality target attainment,' effectively addressing current pain points in insulin therapy in China, allowing more eligible patients to confidently initiate injectable treatment. Notably, its unique dual-component ratio is specifically tailored for Chinese patients, truly embodying a 'Chinese solution' to benefit Chinese individuals with diabetes."

Professor Peng Yongde Shares Innovative Medicines Propel China's Blood Sugar Management into a "High-Quality Target Achievement" New Era

Building a New Ecosystem for Diabetes Management, Sharing Good Times with Chinese Diabetics
In recent years, in addition to continuously accelerating the introduction of innovative drugs, Sanofi has been committed to providing comprehensive health care throughout the life cycle for people with diabetes. It has been constantly exploring areas such as innovative payment methods, the promotion of standardized diagnosis and treatment at the grassroots level, the effectiveness of auxiliary diagnosis and treatment, and public science education. Sanofi is working with industry partners to build a new ecosystem for diabetes management to meet patients' medium- and long-term diagnostic and treatment needs, ultimately improving their quality of life.
In 2019, to support grassroots diabetes management and prevention, and improve the standardized diagnosis and treatment level of diabetes at the grassroots level, Sanofi joined hands with Ping An Smart City's Smart Healthcare to jointly release the Diabetes Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS);
In 2020, to build a full life cycle health protection and medical support for patients, thereby enhancing China's comprehensive management capability of chronic diseases, Sanofi, as the project supporter, collaborated with multiple parties to create a chronic disease collaborative management system.
In 2021, to help doctors and hospitals improve diagnostic and treatment efficiency, thereby enhancing patients' quality of life, Sanofi collaborated with the Fudan University Hospital Management Institute to release the first research report in China analyzing from a hospital management perspective: "A Multidisciplinary Comprehensive Management Model for Whole-Hospital Blood Glucose Control."
In 2021, Sanofi explored innovative models for chronic disease management and established a subsidiary, Amulet, to provide patients with diversified healthcare security and digital innovative medical solutions; collaborated with JD Health to create the "Diabetes Online Diagnosis and Treatment Service Management Center of Excellence" (iCOE).
Ms. Youping Qiu, General Manager of Sanofi China's Diabetes Division, stated: "As an innovator and leader in the global diabetes management field, Sanofi was one of the first companies in the world to produce insulin and has over a century of expertise in the diabetes domain. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Sanofi's presence in the Chinese market. We have witnessed and participated in the development and transformation of China's diabetes initiatives and are continuously advancing towards a 'Chinese solution' for diabetes management. Sanofi’s commitment to patients with diabetes in China is both long-term and steadfast. In the future, we will continue to collaborate with industry partners to build a new ecosystem for diabetes management, accompanying our patients through better times and jointly contributing to 'Healthy China 2030.'"
*Soliqua TM (iGlarLixi) has not been approved in China and this press release is only for use during the 5th CIIE.