New campaign launched at Westfield Health British Transplant Games 2024 to drive awareness of posttransplant graft-versus-host-diseas

New campaign launched at Westfield Health British Transplant Games 2024 to drive awareness of posttransplant graft-versus-host-disease • Sanofi is a proud sponsor of the British Transplant Games 2024, held from 1st August – 4 th August in Nottingham, where over 1,000 people will compete for their place at the World Transplant Games and raise awareness of the need for organ, blood and stem cell donation. 1 • With a strong heritage in transplant, Sanofi is committed to raising awareness of a potentially life-threatening condition people can experience following stem cell transplant – graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). • GVHD affects approximately 1 in 3 people that undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplant every year which can cause a range of disabilities and impacts patients' quality of life. 2,3 [Reading], Thursday, 1st August 2024. Sanofi is proud to announce its sponsorship of the British Transplant Games (BTG) 2024, working with the transplant community to increase awareness of the impact of transplant, and help improve quality of life following receiving a transplant. The games, which are held in Nottingham, will start today and see over 1,000 transplant recipients and donors compete in over 25 sporting events.1 Organised by Transplant Sport, the sporting event is held to raise awareness of the need for organ, blood and stem cell donation, encourage transplant recipients to lead active lifestyles and show appreciation for donors and their families.1 Sanofi are supporting the Transplant Games and working together with the transplant community at this event, to raise awareness of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), a life-changing condition which can impact hundreds of people each year.2,3 In England, around 1,400 people undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplant every year and, around 30 – 40% will develop GVHD, 3 a complication which can significantly impact outcomes for those following surgery.2 The systematic immune response to the transplant can cause a range of severe disabilities and results in the body’s immune system attacking itself, meaning a suppressed immune response which leaves people increasingly vulnerable to infection.4 GVHD is not fully understood and impacts people very differently, and in some cases, it can have profound impact on patient quality of life. 4 At Sanofi, we are sponsoring and attending the games to work with the community in raising awareness of this complex and potentially life-threatening condition2 to work towards better support for people following transplant. For people living with GVHD, the condition can be disabling with many highlighting a significant quality of life impact. GVHD is associated with substantial financial strains, relationship difficulties and emotional distress for people experiencing the condition, and their support networks. 5 In 2023, Sanofi conducted research to define the impact of chronic GVHD and found that 76% (n=17) of patients reported their condition has impacted their ability to enjoy life and 82% (n=17) of patients reported that the condition significantly impacted their physical activity. 5 These figures highlight the importance of events like this. Not only are the games the UK’s biggest celebration of transplants, but the event also provides an opportunity to highlight the crucial need for organ donation, particularly stem cell donation. Many adults and children will be competing in the games this weekend who have benefitted from being able to receive a stem cell transplant – so it is important that we raise awareness of this impactful condition of MAT-XU-2402989 v1.0 August 2024 which many may have experienced following transplant as well. We are dedicated to continuing to collaborate with the community to share experiences and raise awareness of life following transplant, striving to improve outcomes for those affected by GVHD, now and in the future. Ahmed Moussa General Manager, General Medicines, Sanofi UK & Ireland “Sanofi is proud to contribute to the success of the British Transplant Games 2024. It is a great opportunity to not only raise awareness of the need for organ donation, but the impact transplant can have on people’s lives – particularly raising awareness of GVHD, a condition which many people experience following stem cell transplant. As a proud sponsor and a partner of the games, we’re involved in the opening sporting event of the games, Archery, where 150 athletes will be competing for their place at the World Transplant Games. We are so excited to be in attendance!” Dr Paul Harden Chairman, Transplant Sport “We are thrilled to have Sanofi as a sponsor for this year's British Transplant Games. The support is invaluable in helping us create a platform that not only showcases the incredible abilities of our participants but also raises crucial awareness for organ donation. We can’t wait for the games and to watch all the fantastic sport!” For more information about the BTG, visit https://www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk/ About graft-versus-host disease GVHD is a complex and life-threatening condition that can significantly impact the outcomes of patients who have undergone stem cell transplantation (SCT). 6 It arises when donor immune cells (graft) attack the recipient’s body (host) post-transplant.6 It can cause inflammation (swelling) and fibrosis (scarring or hardening) which can affect almost any organ in the body.6,7 Other symptoms of GVHD can include, but are not limited to, fasciitis (inflammation of connective tissues), cutaneous sclerosis (hardening of the skin), and bronchiolitis obliterans (inflammation of the lung’s airways). 8 GVHD affects patients who have already undergone intensive clinical interventions and have often had to deal with the trauma of being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, including many blood cancers and certain blood, immune system and metabolic disorders. Many patients with GVHD experience significant depression or anxiety symptoms.9,10 It is estimated that in England around 1,400 adults receive a stem cell transplant from a donor each year, and that the number of these types of transplants is increasing each year.3 About Sanofi We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across some 100 countries, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions. Contacts Gemma Lumber, Communications Lead, General Medicines, Sanofi UK & Ireland +44 (0) 7713 313170 | gemma.lumber@sanofi.com Clara Bentham, Head of Corporate Affairs, Sanofi UK & Ireland +44 (0)7841 033734| clara.bentham@sanofi.com References 1 British Transplant Games. The Westfield Transplant Games. Available at: https://www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk/ Last accessed: July 2024. MAT-XU-2402989 v1.0 August 2024 2 Cancer Research UK. What is graft versus host disease (GvHD)? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/gvhd/about Last accessed: July 2024. 3 Anthony Nolan. 2021. Analysis of hospital activity and costs following allogeneic stem cell transplantation in England. Available at: https://www.anthonynolan.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/analysis-of-hospital-activity-andcosts.pdf Last accessed: July 2024. 4 Anthony Nolan. 2021. An essential guide to graft versus host disease (GvHD). Available at: 2630PA Essential Guide to GvHD_Website.pdf (anthonynolan.org) Last accessed: July 2024. 5 Data on file – Quantitative survey. 6 Justiz Vaillant, A., Modi, P., Mohammadi, P (2024). Graft-Versus-Host-Disease. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538235/ Last accessed: July 2024. 7 Salhotra, A., Eiznhamer D., Hennegan, K. et al (2020). Presentation and management of chronic graft-versus-host disease in real-world clinical practice: A medical chart audit. EHA Virtual Congress, Abstract EP1436. 8 Filipovich, A., Weisdorf, D., Pavletic, S. et al (2005). National Institutes of Health consensus development project on criteria for clinical trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease: I. Diagnosis and staging working group report. Biology of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation, 11(12): 945-55. 9 El-Jawahri, A., Pidala, J., Khera, N. et al (2018). “Impact of Psychological Distress on Quality of Life, Functional Status, and Survival in Patients with Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease.” Biology of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation, 24(11): 2285-92. 10 Pidala, J., Kurland, B., Chai, X. et al (2011). “Patient-reported quality of life is associated with severity of chronic graft-versus-host disease as measured by NIH criteria: report on baseline data from the Chronic GVHD Consortium.” Blood, 117(17): 4651-7