Sanofi-aventis Dagenham leads the way

Most people know someone who has directly or indirectly been affected by cancer. Education and awareness can help people identify the early symptoms of some cancers but without research and development into pioneering new medicines, many sufferers would end up with poor quality of life and a reduced life expectancy.

Although trading under different names over the years, Sanofi-aventis www.sanofi-aventis.com has been in Dagenham, since 1919 and has made a significant impact in the field of oncology. One of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies and number one in Europe, other major therapeutic areas it specialises in include: cardiovascular, thrombosis, metabolic disorders, central nervous system, internal medicine and vaccines.

Sanofi-aventis's main objective is to provide patients with effective well-tolerated medicines as quickly as possible. When it comes to conditions that are difficult to treat - such as Alzheimer's, depression, cancer or diabetes - Sanofi-aventis increase its chances of developing groundbreaking treatments that will provide real patient benefit, by multiplying and diversifying pharmacological and scientific approaches.

Its vast 55 acre Rainham Road South site has seen it undergo many changes and, well known in the locality, Sanofi-aventis currently employs about 500 members of staff. In discovering, developing and distributing therapeutic solutions Sanofi-aventis introduces and manufactures new products all the time and the Dagenham site is very much a centre of excellence for oncology products. In fact, the Dagenham site's most notable achievement is supplying strategic oncology products to the worldwide market.

Today, Sanofi-aventis' research focuses on the development of new approaches, targets and pharmaceutical classes. Sanofi-aventis' Dagenham site has access to local training provision and cites the Centre for Engineering Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) as one of several business gems in the local area. It also recognises that the UK has greater flexibility as a business location than other countries, allowing quick business decisions and changes to be made.

When asked why Sanofi-aventis has chosen to stay in London Thames Gateway for so long the Site Manager, replied: "We appreciate the fact that the site is a long time established industrial location and find ourselves supported by the local infrastructure, roads and public transport system."