Jewish General Hospital becomes home of new Centre of Excellence in Thrombosis and Anticoagulation Care

Centre created in partnership with Sanofi Canada

MONTREAL, Dec. 18, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - In partnership with Sanofi Canada, the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) has created the Centre of Excellence in Thrombosis and Anticoagulation Care (CETAC). The Centre's mandate is to provide leadership and guidance to other institutions and agencies in Quebec to support initiatives in thrombosis prevention and treatment. Funding of the Centre is made possible through support from the JGH Foundation and a $1 million contribution from Sanofi Canada over 4 years.

Complications of thrombosis, the formation of blood clots inside a blood vessel, can include deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE).

"VTE is the third most common cardiovascular condition after heart attack and stroke," says Dr. Susan Kahn, Director of the JGH Thrombosis Program. "In addition, PE causes more deaths each year than breast cancer, HIV and motor vehicle accidents combined. These complications are serious health issues, which must be addressed in an organized fashion in an appropriate facility.  Our new Centre will be the right place to show leadership in thrombosis and anticoagulation care."

The Centre's partnership is the latest of many collaborations between the JGH and government, other hospitals, healthcare and research institutions, and private industry.

"Our partnership with the private sector and others enables the JGH to achieve much more than would have been possible for us on our own," says Dr. Hartley Stern, JGH Executive Director. "It represents our ongoing commitment to working within the Quebec healthcare network and becoming a valuable resource to improve health care throughout Montreal and Quebec."

"We are delighted to be involved with the JGH's Centre of Excellence," says Sanofi Canada President and CEO Jon Fairest. "With a strategy of cooperation that targets unmet medical needs, we continue to forge strong relationships with scientific communities and experts acknowledged in their fields to improve therapies and support patients and their families."

The Centre will focus not only on treatment but also on prevention, which means better long-term health for many individuals, but also less financial pressure on the overburdened public healthcare system.

About the JGH Thrombosis Program
The current JGH Thrombosis Program encompasses a broad range of clinical and research activities that relate to diagnosis, risk factors, treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolic disease, management of thrombophilia and issues pertaining to long-term anticoagulation. Over the last 15 years the JGH has built a unique, multidisciplinary thrombosis program with patient care, training, education and internationally recognized research components that are unparalleled in Quebec and among the top programs in Canada. The Thrombosis physicians comprise a multidisciplinary, collaborative group that includes hematologists, internists and a pulmonologist, with close links to related specialties such as vascular surgery, cardiology, neurology and obstetrics.

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, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi companies in Canada include sanofi-aventis Canada Inc. (pharmaceuticals), Sanofi Pasteur (vaccines), Sanofi Consumer Health (health and beauty), Genzyme (rare diseases) and Merial (animal health). Together they employ more than 1,700 people, mainly in the greater Montreal and Toronto areas. In 2011 Sanofi companies invested $151.7 million in R&D in Canada, creating jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.

Image with caption: "Pictured from left, Benoit Gravel, VP Sanofi Canada; Larry Sidel, VP and COO, JGH Foundation; Myer Bick, President and CEO, JGH Foundation; Jon Fairest, President and CEO, Sanofi Canada; Dr. Susan Kahn, Director, JGH Thrombosis Program; Dr. Hartley Stern, Executive Director, Jewish General. (CNW Group/SANOFI)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121218_C9988_PHOTO_EN_22050.jpg

SOURCE: SANOFI

Glenn J. Nashen, Director
Astrid Morin, Media Relations
Public Affairs and Communications
Jewish General Hospital
Tel.: [phone]  ext. 4612
Email: [email protected]
Website: jgh.ca

Joanne Kennedy
Director Communications
Sanofi Canada
Tel. [phone]
Email: [email protected]