French pharma giant Sanofi launched a new global program aimed at providing financial, social and emotional assistance to employees diagnosed with cancer or other critical illnesses. Dubbed “Cancer & Work: Acting Together,” the program guarantees continued salary and benefits for up to one year for affected staff regardless of role or location. It also incorporates…
Report: Pharma kicks off year with drug price hikes
Reuters reports that a number of big-name drugmakers, including Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda plan to raise drug prices to start the year. According to the report, the price hikes apply to more than 500 drugs. Excluding different doses and formulations, the reach extends to more than 140 brands of drugs. Reuters said healthcare research firm 3…
Novartis’s Sandoz spin-off and Sanofi’s portfolio slim-down reflect pharma push toward specialization
The pharmaceutical trend toward increasing concentration appears to be gaining momentum. On September 15, Novartis shareholders approved the company’s proposed spinoff of Sandoz, the generics and biosimilars unit. The company anticipates the deal to close in early October. Similarly, Sanofi is also taking a scalpel to its operations, offloading a selection of its central nervous…
The recent FDA thumbs-up for Beyfortus could kickstart a new chapter in RSV prevention
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections like pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants and young children. Traditionally there have been no approved treatments for RSV infections, with care being largely supportive. But the landscape is quickly changing. The FDA recently approved Beyfortus (nirsevimab), the first immunoprophylactic to prevent…
Sanofi, Merck and Novartis top pharma M&A in recent years
Despite a temporary slowdown during the early days of the pandemic, the pharma sector has witnessed a steady rise in M&A activity over the years. The number of deals climbed from 23 in 2018 to 43 in 2022. Major players driving this trend include Sanofi, Merck & Co. and Novartis. Those three players have made…
Sanofi bets on AI-powered decision making
Unveiling Sanofi’s AI-powered pharma strategy, the French pharma giant announced its plans to tap AI for insights across the company. With “plai,” an internal app, AI could provide real-time data supporting decision-making. Sanofi’s goal, as CEO Paul Hudson stated in a news release, is to become the first pharma company powered by AI at scale,…
Pharma M&A 2023: Merck, Pfizer and Sanofi lead industry surge
The pharmaceutical and biotech industries have experienced a surge of high-profile acquisitions and mergers in the first few months of the year, marking a notable trend in pharma M&A 2023. From Merck’s $11 billion acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences to Pfizer’s $43 billion purchase of Seagen, these deals highlight a focus on strengthening core assets and…
California partners with manufacturer to make affordable generic insulin
The state of California has established a $50 million collaboration over a decade with the generic drug manufacturer Civica. The goal of the collaboration is to create affordable state-branded generic insulin. Qualified individuals may obtain a 10-mL vial of generic insulin for $30 or less. California plans to provide a pack containing five prefilled 3…
Sanofi joins Lilly and Novo Nordisk in drastic insulin price reductions
Paris-based Sanofi (Nasdaq:SNY) is the fastest company to reduce insulin prices. The pharmaceutical behemoth said it would cut the list price of Lantus (insulin glargine injection) by 78%. Lantus is its most commonly prescribed insulin in the U.S. Moreover, Sanofi will implement a $35 cap on out-of-pocket expenses for users of the insulin. Sanofi has also…
Sanofi to acquire diabetes treatment developer Provention Bio for $2.9B
Sanofi announced that it agreed to acquire Provention Bio, which develops therapeutics for immune-mediated diseases, for approximately $2.9 billion. Paris, France-based Sanofi agreed to acquire Provention Bio for $25 per share in cash. If the companies complete the acquisition, Sanofi expects a wholly-owned subsidiary to merge with and into Provention Bio. It intends to fund…