During the official visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to France, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the Institut Pasteur and Sanofi formed a strategic alliance aimed at fostering innovation and advance vaccine technologies. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday, June 5, laying the groundwork for scientific and technical cooperation in the field of vaccine research. The initiative is grounded in the complementary expertise and resources of the three institutions.
Create the conditions for vaccine innovation
The partnership aims to promote joint scientific and technical initiatives, facilitate the exchange of researchers and knowledge, and create a dynamic environment for innovation and mutual benefit. The MoU is part of a broader context of collaborative efforts involving Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz, Sanofi, and the Institut Pasteur, and represents an important step toward strengthening long-term institutional relationships.
« I am particularly delighted with this MoU, which will strengthen our already fruitful collaboration with Fiocruz and Sanofi, two strategic partners for the Institut Pasteur. We share the same vision: we are convinced that it is by bringing together all the players, both academic and industrial, that we will be able to accelerate the development of vaccine solutions and thus become more effective in the fight against infectious and emerging diseases. This approach is fully in line with the ambition of our Pasteur 2030 strategic plan, which aims rapidly transform groundbreaking scientific research into practical applications to tackle global health challenges. » said Institut Pasteur President Yasmine Belkaid.
Fiocruz and Sanofi, two long-standing partners of the Institut Pasteur
Fiocruz and the Institut Pasteur, both members of the Pasteur Network, have maintained a robust scientific partnership over several decades. In 2023, they signed a framework agreement in order to boost innovation development and technology transfer. A recent milestone in this collaboration is the inauguration, in May 2024, of the Pasteur-Fiocruz Center for Immunology and Immunotherapy, located at Fiocruz Ceará, in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza. The Center is dedicated to advancing research in immunology and developing innovative immunotherapies for the treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
In October 2024, Fiocruz and the Institut Pasteur, along with other key members of the Pasteur Network have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in mRNA vaccine research and development, part of one of the strategic pillars of the Pasteur Network.
The Institut Pasteur and Sanofi are also long-standing partners. A framework agreement structures our partnership, with 10 R&D collaboration projects underway, including an ambitious program in mRNA vaccines.
