BRIDGEWATER, N.J., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi US announced today that n4a Diabetes Care Center has been selected as the winner of the 2012 Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge (Innovation Challenge). n4a Diabetes Care Center will receive $100,000 to help match patients with certain cost patterns and risk profiles with appropriate support and services designed to slow the progression and expenditures of diabetes.
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“Sanofi US has provided us with resources and legendary mentors from around the world to help make the Innovation Challenge a valuable experience,” said Sandy Markwood, CEO, n4a Diabetes Care Center. “We look forward to developing our concept with a partner who shows true dedication to using an open dialogue with people living with diabetes to drive lasting changes in healthcare.”
One of this year’s judges, Sue Siegel, CEO, Healthymagination, added, “Combining big data analytics with basic care coordination through their established network is so powerful and what healthcare needs to do more of going forward.”
As part of the Innovation Challenge, n4a Diabetes Care Center, along with the four other semi-finalists, participated in the Design & Prototyping Boot Camp. The Boot Camp was a program created to orient the team to human-centered design and user experience, develop a deeper understanding of diabetes and teach rapid prototyping methodologies. After n4a Diabetes Care Center was chosen as one of two finalists, they entered the final phase of the Challenge - a community uptake exercise connecting the team with people living with diabetes in order to garner valuable feedback. The judges then evaluated the team’s effort to incorporate new insight gleaned from the process into its prototype, as part of the final selection criteria.
“n4a Diabetes Care Center’s predictive analysis system takes a very different approach to diabetes care, with big data that measure tangible real life improvements in outcomes,” said Dennis Urbaniak, Vice President, Head of U.S. Diabetes, Sanofi US and Innovation Challenge judge. “The team’s solution embraces the values of the Innovation Challenge, demonstrating the capacity to improve the lives of millions of Americans living with diabetes.”
Now in its second year, the Innovation Challenge is aligned with the United States government’s initiative to use an open dialogue to drive action toward a three-part aim: innovation in the quality, delivery and cost of diabetes care. Last year’s winner, Ginger.io, uses an app to alert caregivers to concerning behavioral changes. Following the Innovation Challenge, Ginger.io raised $1.7MM in seed funding and expanded its company, which now includes 9 full-time employees.
To follow the Innovation Challenge, visit Twitter, Facebook, or the Data Design Diabetes blog.
About the Data Design Diabetes Innovation Challenge
Data Design Diabetes is a next-generation challenge offered by Sanofi US that brings together the richness of open datasets, the values of human-centered design, and the leading-edge methodology of the top innovation accelerators to find the next breakthrough to help millions of Americans living with diabetes.
About the Sanofi Diabetes Division
Sanofi strives to help people manage the complex challenges of diabetes by delivering innovative, integrated and personalized solutions. Driven by valuable insight that comes from listening to and engaging with people living with diabetes, the Company is forming partnerships to offer diagnostics, therapies, services, and devices including innovative blood glucose monitoring systems. Sanofi markets both injectable and oral medications for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Investigational compounds in the pipeline include an injectable GLP-1 agonist being studied as a single agent, in combination with basal insulins, and/or in combination with oral antidiabetic agents.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global and diversified 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, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi is the holding company of a consolidated group of subsidiaries and operates in the United States as Sanofi US, also referred to as Sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC. For more information on Sanofi US, please visit http://www.sanofi.us or call 1-800-981-2491.
Contact:
Media Relations
Lindsey Schedler
Tel.: 908 981 6754
Lindsey.Schedler@Sanofi.com
US.GLA.12.06.094
SOURCE Sanofi US
