Sanofi

Sanofi develops products that meet the health needs of people. Sanofi offers research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of innovative therapeutic solutions. It covers areas such as diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health, and the new G enzyme. 

Its products include prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs for thrombosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, oncology and internal medicine, vaccines, and other medical products. The two young groups Sanofi and Synthélabo merged in May 1999 to create a major new pharmaceutical player. Sanofi dates back to 1973 and Synthélabo to 1970. In December 1999, Rhône-Poulenc and Hoechst Marion Roussel formalized their merger with the creation of the Franco-German group Aventis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. 

In August 2004, Sanofi-Synthelabo acquired Aventis. The takeover was finalized on December 31 of that year, giving birth to Sanofi-aventis. On May 6, 2011, sanofi-aventis simplified its name to Sanofi. Sanofi operates in over 100 countries throughout the world.

In 1973 French cosmetics firm L’Oréal purchased a majority ownership in Synthélabo and continued to develop the company’s global market for prescription drugs. Although Sanofi was created in order to form an amalgamation of companies, it was only in 1979 that all its pharmaceutical activities were regrouped under a single organization. While currency exchange fluctuations caused Parcor to register a profit decline in 1979, that same year Sanofi reported an overall increase in company profits.

In 1975, Sanofi expanded its operations to the United States by acquiring the pharmaceutical company Winthrop Laboratories. This acquisition helped Sanofi to establish a strong presence in the US market and expand its global operations.

In 1979, Sanofi acquired Bioindustries, a French biotechnology company focused on the development of antibiotics and other drugs. This acquisition helped Sanofi to diversify its product portfolio and strengthen its position in the biotech industry.

In 1980, the Clin Midy group was acquired by Sanofi. By mid-1980 Sanofi's profits reached unprecedented heights. A joint subsidiary formed in 1981 with the United States-based American Home Products company was followed by a similar agreement established with the Japanese groups Meiji-Seika-Kaisha and Taisho. Sanofi's research and development activities, supported by a 34% increase in expenditures during 1982, produced a number of potential profit-making drugs.

One of the most important developments in Sanofi's research activities was the 1983 inauguration of a biotechnology centre in Labège, the largest of its kind in France. In 1983 Choay, a pharmaceutical company specializing in the area of venous thrombosis was acquired by Sanofi. By 1984 Elf Aquitaine's increasing biotechnological activities compelled the state-owned oil group to reorganize its company structure. By the next year, Sanofi posted an annual sales figure of FFr15 billion. Other significant events which occurred in 1985 included the introduction of the first low-molecular-weight heparin.

The two companies eventually merged to form Rhône-Poulenc Rorer in 1990. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Paris, France. Actelion profile and corporate video Actelion is a pharmaceuticals and biotechnology company established in December 1997, headquartered in Allschwil near Basel, Switzerland.  In 1996, Sanofi launched Allegra, an antihistamine used to treat allergies. Allegra became one of the company's most successful products, generating billions of dollars in sales. 

 In 1994, Sanofi acquired Sterling Drug, a US-based pharmaceutical company, for $1.9 billion. This acquisition helped to strengthen Sanofi's position in the US market and expand its product portfolio. By 1998, Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb jointly launched Plavix, a blood thinner used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Plavix became one of the company's most successful products, generating billions of dollars in sales.

 In 1999, Sanofi acquired Synthélabo, another French pharmaceutical company, for $8.5 billion. This acquisition helped to expand Sanofi's product portfolio and strengthen its position in the European market. In 2000, Sanofi launched Lantus, a long-acting insulin used to treat diabetes. Lantus became one of the company's most successful products, generating billions of dollars in sales.

In 2004, Sanofi acquired Aventis, a French pharmaceutical company, for $65 billion. This acquisition helped Sanofi to become one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world and expand its operations in Europe and the United States. By 2007, Sanofi formed a partnership with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize new biotech drugs. This partnership has resulted in the development of several successful products, including Dupixent, a drug used to treat asthma and eczema.

Sanofi’s CEO is Christopher A. Viehbacher, who has been in this position since 1st December 2008. Sanofi’s primary global social media tool is its YouTube channel, Sanofi TV. Sanofi’s history of using video dates back to 2009, when the company launched a dedicated website called Sanofi-Aventis TV, making the company one of the leading pioneers of this platform.

In 2011, Sanofi acquired Genzyme, a biotechnology company focused on rare genetic disorders and other diseases, for $20.1 billion. This acquisition helped Sanofi to diversify its product portfolio and expand its presence in the biotech industry. On 6 May 2011, Sanofi-Aventis simplified its name to Sanofi. Since its acquisition by Sanofi in 2011, Genzyme has kept its name and benefits from the reach and resources of the global pharma company, with “a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients”, according to its website. Sanofi has yet to announce its full-year 2012 earnings. All four of these products featured on the top 200 list of pharmaceutical products ranked by sales in US dollars for 2012.

In 2013, Sanofi announced a major restructuring plan, which involved cutting thousands of jobs and streamlining its operations in an effort to reduce costs and improve efficiency. In 2015, Sanofi launched a new insulin product called Toujeo, which is a long-acting insulin glargine used to treat diabetes. This product was developed to replace the company's flagship insulin product, Lantus, which was facing patent expiration.

In 2016, Sanofi announced that it was working on a vaccine for the Zika virus, which had become a global health threat. However, the company faced setbacks in the development process and ultimately abandoned the project in 2019. In 2018, Sanofi acquired Bioverativ, a biotech company focused on developing treatments for haemophilia and other blood disorders, for $11.6 billion. This acquisition further strengthened Sanofi's position in the biotech industry.

In 2020, Sanofi announced that it was partnering with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the development process faced several delays and setbacks, and the company ultimately abandoned the project in December 2021.

Updated on March 31, 2022 Number of development projects by phase 2022 Fitusiran prophylaxis reduced bleeds by 61% in people with haemophilia A or B, with or without inhibitors, compared to prior factor or bypassing agent prophylaxis

“We have to play an active role by providing superior, innovative vaccines for the prevention and treatment of disease and by playing an active role in the immunization community to maximize vaccination.”

"We provide potentially life-changing treatments and the protection of life-saving vaccines to millions of people, and affordable access to our medicines in some of the world’s poorest countries. Our teams across the world strive to transform the practice of medicine, turning the impossible into the possible for patients."

“We envision a world where people take the lead in improving their healthcare outcomes and their lives.”

“Every day, we are pushing the frontiers of science. Thanks to the many people who volunteer to participate in research, our R&D teams are pursuing new vaccines and medicines with the potential to make life better for patients, families, and communities.”

Sanofi develops, manufactures, and distributes healthcare products and pharmaceuticals for:

• Diabetes solutions 
• Human vaccines 
• Rare diseases
• Emerging markets, and 
• Consumer healthcare
• Prescription sleep

Sanofi's global speciality care business unit focuses on:

• Rare diseases 
• Rare blood disorders 
• Neurology 
• Immunology 
• Oncology