Sanofi-aventis Biolaunch project gets underway

Sanofi-aventis has officially started the Biolaunch project at its Vitry-sur-Seine (France) pharmaceuticals production site.

The Euro 200m Biolaunch project will give rise to the company's first cell culture biotechnology platform and will produce monoclonal antibodies from 2012.

Monoclonal antibodies are complex proteins that come from a single parent cell and offer new possibilities for better-targeted and more effective treatments with fewer side effects. They are already used to treat cancer, autoimmune disorders, and prevent transplant rejection.

"With Biolaunch, Sanofi-aventis will benefit from a complete platform of expertise in biotechnologies," said Christopher Viehbacher, chief executive of Sanofi-aventis. "This project, which gathers and mobilises the best expertise both inside and outside the company, is an illustration of the ongoing transforming programme within Sanofi-aventis."

This project is a core part of the conversion plan for the Vitry-sur-Seine site, turning it into a comprehensive biotechnology platform that includes research, development and production activities.

The Biolaunch project is joined with a major training programme in new biotech business activities, which began in April and comprises special modules for both theory and practice, with a "Biolaunch passport" syllabus.