Biogen Joins accelRare, the Tool Supported by Sanofi to Combat Diagnostic Wandering
Sanofi announces the integration of Biogen into accelRare, a free pre-diagnostic tool for rare diseases co-developed with 13 Rare Disease Health Networks and the French startup MedVir. This collaboration expands the range of pathologies addressed by the platform and strengthens its promotion among healthcare professionals.
A Partnership to Accelerate Rare Disease Diagnostics
Biogen joins accelRare, a free tool accessible to all doctors to facilitate the early identification of a suspected rare disease. The platform relies on a database validated by experts from the 13 rare disease health networks and on the MedVir pre-diagnostic tool, developed by the French startup of the same name.
This partnership addresses a major public health issue: in France, nearly 3 million people live with a rare disease, more than half of whom lack a precise diagnosis. On average, patients wait about 4 years to receive a diagnosis, with some remaining undiagnosed for more than a decade.
Over 310 Rare Diseases and 7,000 Pre-Diagnostics
Launched in 2024, accelRare currently targets over 310 rare diseases and has already enabled more than 7,000 pre-diagnostics. The satisfaction rate among using physicians reaches 4.54/5.
As part of this collaboration, Biogen will help promote accelRare through its network of healthcare professionals and will enhance the pre-diagnosis of certain rare diseases, particularly Friedreich's ataxia. The partnership will also enrich the algorithm by leveraging Biogen's expertise and network of experts, expanding the spectrum of rare diseases integrated into the platform, especially those associated with a high risk of 'missed opportunity'.
A Collective Model Serving Early Diagnosis
Laure Durand, Director of the Rare Diseases Franchise in France at Sanofi, states: 'Biogen's entry into this partnership is a wonderful step that brings us closer to our ambition: to unite the entire pharmaceutical ecosystem around a common goal, reducing the diagnostic wandering that still affects millions of patients with rare diseases.'
Thibaud Guymard, Director of Innovation, Services & Digital at Biogen France, emphasizes: 'The unprecedented collaboration between Sanofi, Medvir, and Biogen around accelRare fully illustrates the strength of the collective in serving patients with rare diseases.'
