After numerous delays and a year overshadowed by a global pandemic, the highly anticipated Expo 2020 Dubai has finally commenced, adding an extra layer of significance to its grand opening. With millions of visitors expected to flock to Dubai’s purpose-built site, the mega event promises a world of innovation and inspiration.
For Expo organizers and a diverse array of partners, sponsors, and participating organizations, the arrival of October 1 has been long-awaited. Originally slated to begin a year earlier, the 12-month postponement brought about a period of anxious anticipation. However, the silver lining lies in the fact that a global audience now has the opportunity to witness firsthand how pharmaceutical and biotechnology giants have navigated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, reshaping the landscape of science and medicine in the process.
Expo 2020 Dubai will serve as a platform for some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies to showcase their formidable efforts in combatting the coronavirus. For these entities, the battle against the pandemic has been a collaborative effort, transcending competition as they joined forces with governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), and even industry rivals to overcome a common and lethal foe. As Jean-Paul Scheuer, MCO Lead for Greater Gulf, emphasizes, ‘here in fighting against COVID, there is no competition.’
This sentiment comes from firsthand experience, as Sanofi plays a pivotal role in the development of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. The ongoing struggle involves adapting treatments to address new variants and evolving insights into the virus.
Yet, for Sanofi, the focus extends beyond the pandemic. While the world grappled with the dominance of the coronavirus, the pharmaceutical giant was at the forefront of pioneering new treatments for various persistent diseases affecting humanity.
As a thematic sponsor at Expo’s France Pavilion, Sanofi will actively engage visitors in their extensive research and development endeavors, showcasing innovations in therapeutic medicine fields such as immunology, oncology, diabetes, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases.
“Countries in the Gulf region – particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia – are among the very first countries in the world to get access to our new treatments,” notes Jean-Paul. His words underscore the significance of the region to Sanofi and the pivotal role the company plays in advancing the Gulf’s position in the realms of science and healthcare.
Whether collaborating with the UAE government to combat childhood diabetes, investing in a factory in Jeddah, or partnering with the Saudi health ministry to establish asthmatic clinics, Sanofi is actively working with key stakeholders to make a meaningful impact on the region’s health landscape.
