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EF: As the year 2023 ends, what accomplishments and outcomes would you like to highlight? And what priorities has it set for 2024?
DDPF: In 2023, the second year following the pandemic, we have noticed a return to normal trends in therapeutic areas, particularly cardiovascular diseases, resuming their place as the primary cause of death in Mexico. Meanwhile, mental health has emerged as another significant concern in the internal environment.
We are also observing preparations for the upcoming elections in Mexico, where health remains a crucial element in political campaigns. Notably, there has been an improvement in how tenders are organized, extending to cover a two-year period rather than just one. Additionally, the private segment exhibited its usual behavior, with generics gaining a slightly increased market share over branded products.
Access to healthcare remains our primary challenge, and we look forward to seeing overall agility enhancement to enable faster access to high-specialty drugs in the market. Looking forward to 2024, we have an important high-specialty product launch for transplant, which we anticipate will significantly impact many lives positively.
We aim to invest more in Mexico. Nevertheless, we need an even more agile health ecosystem to provide quicker responses that enhance our planning and execution readiness.
EF: How is Sanofi strategizing and preparing to stay innovative in the future landscape of medicine?
DDPF: Our primary aim as a company dedicated to chasing the miracles of science is to improve people's lives through the development of novel molecules in high-specialty areas, especially in immunology and inflammation. This focus implies a smart reallocation of resources to fund the additional investment required.
EF: How is Sanofi using digital technologies to enhance operations, expand its reach, and streamline its processes?
DDPF: Sanofi is now prioritizing investment in global IT solutions rather than individualized and fragmented ones, aiming to unify and enhance the ecosystem. The company is heavily focusing on utilizing AI to support key processes, particularly in R&D, aiming to increase productivity and yield better outcomes. AI is prominently used for generating insights across the organization. Modules with embedded intelligence are being created to analyze ongoing activities and provide suggestions - a fascinating and impactful development.
Moreover, AI is being integrated into medical detailing to ensure more targeted communication with physicians by better understanding their needs. The main objective is not merely process automation; instead, it is about leveraging AI to gather valuable insights that add value to R&D, performance management, and physician messaging, positioning Sanofi as a pioneer in the strategic use of artificial intelligence.
EF: What advice would you offer other industry leaders on fostering a cohesive and unified work culture?
DDPF: To enhance efficiency and scalability, it is crucial to prioritize global IT solutions over numerous fragmented local ones. While local solutions might seem to boost creativity and flexibility locally, they often lead to inefficiencies in the long run unless they are designed as pilots for future scale-up. The focus needs to be on creating solutions intended for global implementation across the entire company from the start. Additionally, the emphasis should be on generating impactful insights rather than solely on process automation. The goal of artificial intelligence should revolve around producing valuable insights that significantly influence future business strategies. Finally, in terms of incentivization, there is a need to shift from rewarding mere activities and efforts to acknowledging and rewarding substantial outcomes. This change in approach is crucial for effective change management within any organization toward building a high-performance culture and mindset.
EF: How is Sanofi actively promoting health awareness and societal well-being in Mexico?
DDPF: Over the past two years, we have developed a platform in Mexico called "Entregando Salud," aimed at empowering patients in managing diabetes and hypertension. This platform is freely accessible and offers support from physicians and other expert healthcare professionals. Our goal is to enhance prevention and treatment adherence, which is very important for the management of cardiovascular diseases by patients.
Additionally, our support arm offers special conditions to aid unemployed or socially disadvantaged individuals in accessing treatment.
EF: Can you elaborate on Sanofi's approach to social responsibility in other countries where it operates, given its origin as a French company?
DDPF: We have implemented numerous programs to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization. For instance, we have established equal rights for both men and women regarding parental leave, offering a unique 6-month leave in cases of having children, even for adopted kids, or in various relationship structures. This extensive leave period sets us as pioneers within our industry. We have developed five Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) focusing not only on diversity like LGBTQ+ representation but also on other important aspects such as disabilities, aging, and minorities.
Our internal program, 'We Volunteer,' has over 500 participants in Mexico alone, engaging in volunteer activities with NGOs. Under the “We Volunteer” corporate program, we believe that dedicating our time to those in need, even if it is just a few hours, is significant. Sanofi encourages one day to volunteer for any registered NGO or related program, fostering a spirit of giving back.
EF: Regarding the upcoming elections in Mexico, what future priorities or role do you envision for the healthcare industry?
DDPF: Our commitment remains steadfast as a constant contributor within the health ecosystem. We are dedicated to supporting government initiatives, aiming to identify areas for improvement while collaboratively aligning with the government's agenda and priorities. Sanofi operates on the principle of building together.
In March, we will mark our 95th year in Mexico, considering ourselves among the most deeply rooted national companies among multinational pharmaceutical firms, with a workforce of 1,400 and a manufacturing ecosystem that produces 85 percent of our sales volume. Our extensive sales force operates across the entire nation. Our commitment remains steadfast as a constant contributor within the health ecosystem, and we are dedicated to supporting governmental initiatives, aiming to identify areas for improvement while collaboratively aligning with the government's agenda and priorities.
EF: What final message or insight would you like to share?
DDPF: Our primary objective is to construct a stronger health ecosystem collaboratively. Our focus extends beyond meeting targets; we are committed to chasing the miracle of science to improve people's lives. Let us unite and work collectively within the Mexican health ecosystem toward this shared goal.
