- National biotechnology research competition inspires teens to choose STEM careers -

TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - The Sanofi Group in Canada announced today that it has selected Partners In Research as the new national coordinator for the Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (SBCC), a national biotechnology research competition founded in 1993 to help advance careers in science among high school students. Partners In Research (PIR) helps Canadians understand the significance, accomplishments and promise of biomedical research in advancing health and medicine, with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as fields of discovery and study for Canadian students.

"Thanks to the collaboration between industry, government and academia, thousands of high school students have participated in the SBCC over the past 20 years. In fact, it has inspired many of them to make life-changing research discoveries and choose careers in the life sciences, which speaks to the impact and value of this program," said Mark Lievonen, President, Sanofi Pasteur Limited, which helped establish the competition in 1993. "We are thrilled to have Partners In Research at our side to grow the SBCC in the years ahead. Their extensive experience working with educational institutions to advance science will help us deepen Canada's talent pool, ultimately accelerating our country's innovation, competitiveness and productivity."

Founded in 1993, the SBCC is a national biotechnology research competition that encourages students to pursue science careers. Over the past 20 years, 4,500 aspiring scientists across Canada have participated in the SBCC, pairing them with mentors from Canada's pre-eminent universities and research institutes. These students have created astounding and life-changing scientific discoveries to tackle some of the most challenging issues today - from cancer to crop diseases and the environment.

Kevin Cougler, Executive Director, Partners In Research, commented, "As an organization that specializes in forging partnerships between academia, business and government, we are proud to partner with the Sanofi Group in Canada. We are confident that our expertise in the educational sector will create an even more meaningful experience for the participants, mentors, regional teams, academia and organizations that have participated in the SBCC since its inception. We will be actively looking for new sponsors and partners to broaden and expand the SBCC across Canada, as we believe many organizations are seeking impactful ways to cultivate the immense talent and potential of our young people."

About Partners In Research

Partners In Research (PIR) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1988 to help Canadians understand the significance, accomplishments and promise of biomedical research in advancing health and medicine. Since its genesis, PIR has broadened its scope to encompass Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as fields of discovery and study for Canadian students.

About the Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (SBCC)

The Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (SBCC) is a national, biotechnology research competition that encourages high school and CEGEP students to pursue future studies and careers in the exciting field of biotechnology. Coordinated by Partners In Research, the initiative is sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur Limited, Sanofi Canada, the Ontario Government (Ministry of Research & Innovation), York University, the National Research Council Canada/Conseil national de recherches Canada (NRC-CNRC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (CIHR-IRSC) and Genome Canada.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, an integrated global 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).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.ca

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and similar expressions. Although Sanofi's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the absence of guarantee that the product candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, the impact of cost containment policies and subsequent changes thereto, the average number of shares outstanding as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

SOURCE: SANOFI CANADA