Making an impact in primary health care 
Impact brand
The Impact Brand
The Impact brand is focused on health care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and diabetes, in selected countries where we operate across the globe.
How we make an impact
Aligned with United Nations Sustainability goals 3, 8, and 17, we strive to make a difference in combating primary health challenges in low and middle income countries. Our efforts focus on the following areas:
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Improving Patient outcomes
Providing treatments at access prices and co-designing programs with public & NGO partners.
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Building impactful multisectoral partnerships
Financing programs with public & NGO partners and supporting the scale-up of social businesses, including equity investments.
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Strengthening Health Systems
Providing non-financial support, technical assistance & mentorship through employee engagement.
The challenge of NCDs
Each year, 17 million people die from an NCD before the age of 70 and 86% of these premature deaths occur in low and middle income countries.1
Why do we see these health challenges in low and middle income countries?
- NCD treatments are long and costly and they contribute to poverty due to substantial medical costs and high out-of-pocket expenditure.
- People in low and middle income countries have less access to effective and equitable healthcare services, leading to late detection of diseases and a higher risk of premature deaths.
How we address the challenge
To address the health challenges of NCDs in developing countries, the Global Health Unit of Sanofi has developed an accessible solution bringing to market several standard-of-care NCD treatments under the brand name of Impact (INN + Impact).
The provision of the Impact range by GHU countries will replace pre-existing identical heritage Sanofi brands for these conditions.
Same quality, different name
With no compromise on quality, the only thing that changes from the Sanofi product brands to the Impact brand is the name and packaging.
Why are we changing the name to Impact?
Launching Impact instead of original Sanofi brands enables us to:
- Provide more accessible prices for these essential medicines, thus offering more value to reach more patients
- Employ one unique pack across countries where we operate to help prevent parallel trade
For more information about this change, visit our FAQ
Jon Fairest
Head of Global Health Unit, Sanofi
We are working to improve access to essential medicines while supporting quality and sustainable healthcare for people in countries with the highest unmet medical needs. It's critical that we work with global, regional and local partners, to bring transformative and lasting change. By building end-to-end health programs that are embedded in the communities they serve, we have the greatest opportunity to improve care and create a more resilient world.
How we work
Discover the core of what we do to address NCDs health challenges and improve care for patients.
Impact fund
The Impact Fund’s Values and Mission
Context
In a context where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise, access to quality healthcare remains insufficient and largely inadequate for the majority of the population in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Innovators are coming up with new technologies and business practices to address the well-known health systems challenges, including supply chain inefficiencies, low traceability of medicine, unaffordability of care, insufficient training of medical staff, inaccessibility at the last mile, lack of preventative behaviors, and others.
Value
We believe it is our responsibility to make a difference in the lives of those most in need and help create sustainable change by creating equitable access to medicine and initiatives that strengthen healthcare ecosystems.
Mission
The Sanofi Impact Fund supports the scale-up of inclusive sustainable local ventures that deliver innovative and tailored solutions to local challenges by improving access to affordable quality treatments and care for underserved patients at the last mile, combining digital innovation and on-the-ground delivery models. By providing inclusive business financing and technical assistance, the fund helps address the healthcare financing gaps that continue to persist in many LMICs.
The Impact Fund's Investment Approach
Our Impact Focus is on the highest unmet needs
A unique focus on underserved patients and lower income countries (40 countries spread across Sub Saharan Africa and South-East Asia).
Focus on the burden of non-communicable diseases.
Emphasis on business model scalability and replicability potential.
Our Investment features: “Impact first” patient capital, and tailored instruments
€25M Fund providing €0.5M-5M equity, quasi-equity and hybrid direct investments.
Investing as minority shareholder.
Impact first, capital preservation.
Investment horizon up to 10 years to form long term partnerships with portfolio companies.
- Early-stage (pre-series A) and growth-stage (post-series A & beyond) companies.
- At least 6 months of revenues generated through the current business model (annualized revenue >€500K), with an actionable and credible business plan towards profitability and a strong potential for scale.
- Strong impact-driven leadership team, local founders/top management with a deep understanding of the sector and the local market.
- Operating on last mile supply chains and targeting hard-to-reach facilities.
- Combining digital innovation and on-the-ground delivery models.
- Being NCD relevant or focused i.e., improving access to primary healthcare or NCD-focused secondary care.
- Improved supply chain models supporting pharmacies, drug shops, and health facilities in the last mile (sourcing, inventory management, financing, and other digital and data-based solutions),
- B2B(2C) digital models for healthcare providers improving patient care services and continuum of care e.g. assisted telemedicine or last mile healthcare connectors,
- Improved care delivery and financing models with a focus on NCDs (e.g. NCD specific hospitals and clinics, NCD specific risks and prevention models).
Our Additionality: Beyond capital, a long-term strategic partner
Working hands-on with management on technical assistance pre and post investment and additionality project.
Leveraging Sanofi internal capabilities, access to experts and networks.
Exploring synergies with Sanofi Global Health through access to an affordable range of products under the Impact brand, grants to de-risk innovation, public-private partnerships and/or advocacy.
Ability to attract catalytic funding.
Our Portfolio
SwipeRX
SwipeRX is a leading technology platform supporting remote and fragmented pharmacies to improve the availability and affordability of medicines and patient care across Southeast Asia, by enabling online education and collaboration, centralized purchasing, financing, and logistics solutions for pharmacists.
Viebeg Technologies
Viebeg Technologies, Inc. is a health tech company that provides high-quality medical supplies and equipment as well as pharmaceuticals to more than 1000 healthcare providers in Central and East Africa through an innovative procurement solution.
Dawa Mkononi
Dawa Mkononi is a health tech company dedicated to improving access to medicine in Tanzania thanks to its data-driven healthcare solutions that increase access and quality of information as well as facilitate safe, effective, and sustainable pharmaceutical supply chains across the industry.
mPharma
mPharma is a leading and complete pharmacy-based and tech business model transforming pharmacies into points of care accross Sub Saharian Africa by providing innovative services, such as vendor-managed inventory services, primary care solutions for community pharmacies and data analytics.
Kasha
Kasha is a digital B2B (and B2C) platform disrupting healthcare supply chains in Africa by delivering health FMCG products, including pharmaceuticals, to small shops and pharmacies. Operating in Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa, Kasha is leveraging digital tools and a vast agent network to improve access to essential health products in underserved communities, especially for women. The company is expanding into additional markets, including Uganda and Tanzania, with a focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
PillTech
PillTech is transforming pharmacies in Cambodia by serving over 500 pharmacies with a B2B marketplace and a wholesale business. PillTech helps pharmacies in underserved areas manage inventory more efficiently and improve their operations through digital tools. The company plans to expand its footprint to rural provinces, diversify its product range, and increase healthcare access at the last mile, all while training pharmacists on pharmacy management through its PillTech Academy.
Our Team
Have a question or need support?
Find answers to the most common questions in our FAQ.
Maybe your question has already been asked. If you don't find your answer, you're always welcome to contact us.
MAT-GLB-2304595 (v5.0) March 2025
References
- World Health Organization 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases, Last accessed October 2023.