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Biopharmaceutical major Sanofi announced that Biogen has joined accelRare, a free pre-diagnostic tool for rare diseases co-developed with 13 Rare Disease Healthcare Networks and the French start-up Medvir.
This collaboration marks a new step in Sanofi's efforts to unite healthcare professionals and industry players, as well as technology stakeholders, to reduce diagnostic delays for rare diseases in France, said the company.
Nearly 3 million people in France are currently living with a rare disease, more than half of whom lack a precise diagnosis. On average, patients wait almost four years for a diagnosis, and some remain undiagnosed for over a decade. Reducing this delay is a major public health priority, enshrined in the 3rd and 4th National Rare Disease Plans in France.
Available free of charge to all physicians, accelRare is a pre-diagnostic tool designed to facilitate the early identification of suspected rare diseases. It relies on a database validated by experts from the 13 rare disease healthcare networks, as well as the MedVir pre-diagnostic tool, to help practitioners refer their patients more quickly to the most appropriate reference centers.
The platform now allows for the targeting of more than 310 rare diseases. Launched in 2024, accelRare has already enabled more than 7,000 preliminary diagnoses, with a physician satisfaction rate of 4.54/5.
As part of this collaboration, Biogen will help promote accelRare within its network of healthcare professionals to enhance the pre-diagnosis of certain rare diseases, including Friedreich's ataxia.
The partnership will also enrich the algorithm by leveraging Biogen's expertise and network of experts, expanding the range of rare diseases integrated into the platform, particularly those associated with a high risk of "loss of opportunity"—conditions for which early diagnosis can significantly change treatment outcomes.
“With accelRare, we have demonstrated that a collective approach that brings together healthcare companies, medical experts, and innovative start-ups like Medvir can improve the patient journey," said Laure Durand, director of the rare diseases franchise in France at Sanofi.
"Biogen’s entry into this partnership is a magnificent step that brings us closer to our ambition: to unite the entire pharmaceutical ecosystem around a common goal, reducing the diagnostic delays that still penalize millions of patients with rare diseases,” added Durand.
“The unprecedented collaboration between Sanofi, Medvir, and Biogen around accelRare fully illustrates the power of collective action in service of patients with rare diseases. By combining our expertise, we are working concretely to accelerate diagnosis, reduce diagnostic delays, and limit missed opportunities,” emphasizes Thibaud Guymard, director of innovation, services & digital at Biogen France.
Dominique Harrouet, CEO of Medvir said, “Medvir, the driving force behind accelRare since its launch, is very proud to have contributed, alongside Sanofi, to initiating the reduction of diagnostic delays in the field of rare diseases".
"Now that its medical value has been demonstrated through a performance study, we are beginning to open the platform to other players in the medical world, both public and private. Biogen is the first of these. We thank them for their trust and commitment to participating in expanding the disease portfolio and promoting the solution," added the official.
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