Understanding Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease and the Collaborative Initiative in France
Sanofi, CEMKA, Lifen, and SFGM-TC join forces to provide a better understanding of the care pathway for French patients suffering from chronic graft-versus-host disease
Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: The Complication with a Complicated Name
So, how do we start understanding this beast known as Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease, or cGVHD? It’s the most common complication after allogeneic stem cell transplants, which sounds more like a wizardry spell than a medical term, doesn’t it? This condition can kick in more than three months after the cozy, little adventure of having someone else’s cells transplanted into your body. While the idea of a sibling’s marrow making you a superhero might sound appealing, the reality is far more complicated. This disease often plays a game of hide-and-seek across various organs, massively impacting the quality of life—because who wouldn’t want to sign up for a complex disease, right?
Statistics and Treatments: The Good, The Bad, and the Totally Awkward
Each year, approximately 19,800 elegant and somewhat brave souls undergo an allogeneic stem cell transplant across Europe. That’s a whole lot of bravery wrapped up in medical jargon! Thanks to advancements, we can stop complications before they spiral out of control—kind of like stopping your friend from ordering the last dessert at a restaurant.
But when it comes to cGVHD and treatments, the go-to solution seems to be corticosteroids. Sure, they’re first-line treatments, but the long-term side effects are about as charming as a bad date—think cataracts, skin issues, and an unwelcome increase in blood pressure. And here’s the kicker: around 50% of patients find that these treatments don’t quite do the trick, leading them on a merry chase for alternative therapies. It’s about as fun as losing your keys when you’re already late for an appointment!
A Collaborative Initiative: Joining Forces Like Superheroes
Now, here’s the exciting part! Sanofi, a heavyweight in the pharmaceutical boxing ring, teamed up with CEMKA, Lifen, and the French-speaking Society for Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC) to tackle cGVHD head-on. It’s like forming an all-star team to deal with the supervillain of complications!
- Lifen—This company, equipped with AI wizardry, is sorting through health data faster than a teenager with a smartphone. They’re automating the extraction and structuring of medical data to help make the life of medical teams easier. Efficiency: 1, Confusion: 0!
- CEMKA—This consultancy’s mission is quality control, making sure every step of the way is smooth, sort of like a meticulous pastry chef ensuring each layer of cake is just right.
The Promising Results: Good News Ahead!
Currently, eight hematology departments have joined the fight, including well-respected establishments like Rouen, Tours, and Nice. These medical warriors are already using data management tools to speed up the research process. After an exciting interim analysis, a total of 306 medical reports were screened using Lifen’s smart technology, identifying 20 patients diagnosed with cGVHD. Preliminary results have already made their way to scientific congresses, proving that advancements in therapy are indeed on the horizon.
The Bigger Picture: Commitment to Patients
The collaboration of Sanofi, CEMKA, Lifen, and SFGM-TC is a beacon of hope for those grappling with chronic graft-versus-host disease. They have gathered a treasure trove of expertise to conquer the most significant medical challenges, paving the way for new therapeutic avenues.
Conclusion: A Horizon of Hope
In a world filled with medical enigmas, cGVHD doesn’t have to steal the show. Thanks to ambitious partnerships and projects like this, patients can look forward to more effective and better-tolerated treatments. Remember, with collaboration, a sprinkle of innovation, and some cheeky humor, we can make even the most complicated medical challenges a bit easier to bear—perhaps even laugh at!
About the Collaborating Entities
About Sanofi
A global health company dedicated to miracle-making via science! They transform medicine, crafting solutions that can change lives and protect populations, all while aiming for sustainable development. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it?
About CEMKA
CEMKA could quite easily be mistaken for the name of an avant-garde band, but they are, in fact, a respected design office specializing in health product evaluation across a range of platforms from medicines to devices.
About Lifen
Founded in 2015, Lifen is making waves in digital health with their AI-powered pursuit of accessible and structured health data. One way to create order out of clinical chaos—definitely a superhero in disguise!
About the SFGM-TC
The Francophone Society for Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy is on a mission to improve access to all forms of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation—like a fairy godmother for patients in need!
For Further Information, Contact:
Nicolas Oberst | +33 6 77 21 27 55 | nicolas.obrist@sanofi.com
Leo Le Bourhis | +33 6 75 06 43 81 | leo.lebourhis@sanofi.com
Victor Rouault | +33 6 70 93 71 40 | victor.rouault@sanofi.com
Sanofi, CEMKA, Lifen, and SFGM-TC unite to enhance insights into the care pathway for French patients battling chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).
Paris, November 7, 2024. Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) emerges as the predominant complication following allogeneic marrow (or hematopoietic stem cell) transplantation, manifesting frequently over three months post-procedure. This complication not only poses significant challenges due to its multifaceted nature, affecting numerous organs but also severely impacts the overall quality of life of affected patients, making it a critical medical concern.
Each year, approximately 19,800 allogeneic stem cell transplants are performed in Europe, reflecting a steady rise in these procedures attributed to advancements in mitigating post-transplant complications, particularly those of immunological origins.
Treatments with recognized limits
When patients develop cGVHD that necessitates systemic intervention, corticosteroids are typically the first line of defense. However, these corticosteroid treatments carry the burden of potentially serious long-term side effects including cataracts, osteoporosis, skin fragility, diabetes, and hypertension. Notably, nearly half of the patients exhibit either inadequate responses to corticosteroid therapy or suffer from intolerable toxicities, leading to the need for second-line therapies or even beyond. Consequently, there exists an urgent demand for alternative treatment modalities that are both more efficacious and better tolerated by patients.
A collaborative initiative mobilizing a team of varied and cross-sector experts
In light of these pressing challenges, Sanofi, a prominent global leader in pharmaceuticals, spearheaded a comprehensive retrospective multicenter study aimed at elucidating the characteristics of patients grappling with cGVHD and their respective care pathways. This ambitious endeavor seeks to delineate the profiles of cGVHD patients, scrutinize existing treatment protocols, and assess clinical outcomes in individuals who have undergone at least two lines of treatment.
To execute this extensive project, Sanofi has collaborated with two companies that bring complementary skills and expertise to the table:
- Lifen, an innovative startup at the forefront of health data processing through AI technologies, will facilitate the setup of the patient cohort using its pioneering tool, Lifen DataLab. This advanced platform automates the extraction and structuring of pseudonymized medical data, significantly expediting the efforts of medical teams.
- CEMKA, a reputable French consultancy specializing in the evaluation of health products, will be tasked with managing contracts with investigative centers while overseeing quality control for data extraction and analysis.
The French-speaking Society for Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC) also plays a crucial role in this initiative, particularly in ensuring rigorous quality control of the patient cohort by benchmarking data collected for this project against information compiled in the SFGM-TC national register.
Promising results already observed
The study involves the participation of eight esteemed hematology departments, including the Rouen University Hospital, Tours University Hospital, Angers University Hospital, Nice University Hospital, Caen University Hospital, Besançon Hospital Center, Gustave Roussy Institute, and University Cancer Institute of Toulouse.
These institutions are part of a network comprising 800 healthcare facilities where Lifen has been overseeing the secure transmission of medical reports over the years; this established relationship has considerably streamlined the process of collecting pseudonymized data for the study without necessitating involvement from the facilities’ IT departments.
The initial interim analysis conducted in July 2024 across the first four participating centers enabled the assessment of an innovative methodological approach leveraging artificial intelligence. A total of 306 medical reports pertaining to allograft patients within these centers were screened automatically, resulting in the identification of 20 patients diagnosed with cGVHD, whose structured data were subsequently analyzed. Preliminary findings from these descriptive analyses have been, or will be, presented at various significant scientific conferences: the cGVHD Symposium in Vancouver (October 16-18), ISPOR Europe in Barcelona (November 17-20), and the SFGM-TC congress in Toulouse (November 20-22). The innovative approach is set to be extended to all participating centers.
This dynamic collaboration exemplifies the unwavering commitment of Sanofi, CEMKA, Lifen, and SFGM-TC to tackle critical medical challenges and enhance the quality of life for patients. This alliance paves the way for new therapeutic avenues and instills hope in individuals striving against cGVHD.
About Sanofi
We are an innovative, global health company driven by a clear purpose: the pursuit of scientific advancements to improve lives. Worldwide, our dedicated teams are committed to transforming medical practices, enabling groundbreaking therapies that have the potential to change patient lives, alongside vaccines that safeguard millions globally, all while adhering to sustainable development principles and our social responsibilities. Sanofi is traded on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY.
About CEMKA
Founded in 1990 following a spin-off from INSERM, CEMKA stands as one of France’s leading design offices dedicated to the evaluation of health products, encompassing medicines, vaccines, devices, and health programs. CEMKA’s diverse expertise spans health economics, data production and analysis, market access, surveys, evaluations, literature reviews, regulatory documentation, and strategic advisory services. The organization’s work is recognized both nationally and internationally, evidenced by a diverse array of sponsors including health authorities, insurance bodies, the pharmaceutical industry, and various healthcare organizations.
About Lifen
Since its inception in 2015, Lifen has emerged as a leader in digital health, focusing on health data solutions and AI applications. Lifen provides an extensive suite of tools that streamline the accessibility, structuring, and secure sharing of health data. Currently, over 800 hospitals and 20,000 private healthcare professionals utilize Lifen’s solutions to reduce administrative burdens, tailor patient care, and accelerate clinical research. Lifen’s workforce, comprising 160 employees, is distributed throughout France. To learn more about Lifen, visit www.lifen.fr.
About the SFGM-TC
The Francophone Society for Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy encompasses over 500 members from diverse backgrounds, united in their mission to ensure that children and adults in need have access to the full spectrum of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation options, also known as marrow transplantation. Its primary aim is to advance and develop all facets of this transplant, which remains a beacon of hope for many patients seeking a cure.
Media Relations
Nicolas Oberst | + 33 6 77 21 27 55 | nicolas.obrist@sanofi.com
Leo Le Bourhis | + 33 6 75 06 43 81 | leo.lebourhis@sanofi.com
Victor Rouault | + 33 6 70 93 71 40 | victor.rouault@sanofi.com
Evaluate the impact of cultural phenomena on a patient
Reviews, and epidemiological studies. With a commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery and outcomes, CEMKA strives to provide insights that inform better health policy and improve the quality of care for patients.
About Lifen
Established in 2015, Lifen stands at the forefront of the digital health landscape, leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate the accessibility and structured management of health data. By working to organize clinical data, Lifen provides healthcare professionals with the tools they need to focus on patient care rather than administrative burdens, effectively transforming chaos into clarity—truly a superhero in the realm of healthcare data management.
About the SFGM-TC
The Francophone Society for Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC) plays an essential role in advancing the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. With a mission to improve patient access to various forms of transplantation, the SFGM-TC serves as a vital resource for healthcare professionals, fostering collaboration, research, and continued education in this critical area of medicine.
For Further Information, Contact:
Nicolas Oberst | +33 6 77 21 27 55 | nicolas.obrist@sanofi.com
Leo Le Bourhis | +33 6 75 06 43 81 | leo.lebourhis@sanofi.com
Victor Rouault | +33 6 70 93 71 40 | victor.rouault@sanofi.com
Sanofi, CEMKA, Lifen, and SFGM-TC join forces to enhance insights into the care pathway for French patients battling chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).
Paris, November 7, 2024. The collaboration is not only a testament to the resilience of the medical community but also a reflection of the innovative spirit driving the search for solutions in the face of complex health challenges. Collectively, these organizations exemplify the importance of partnerships in advancing medical research and improving patient outcomes while maintaining a commitment to innovation and quality care.