Sanofi announced today that it’s shipping Beyfortus injection doses to the U.S. to ensure availability ahead of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. The company shipped 50mg and 100mg injection doses of Beyfortus (nirsevimab-alip) to private healthcare providers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its Vaccines for Children program. Sanofi expects the U.S.…
Sanofi will build a new insulin plant in Germany
Sanofi recently announced that it will spend €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) over the next five years to build a new insulin production facility at its BioCampus in Frankfurt Höchst, Germany. The 36,000 m2 (equivalent to nearly 388,000 ft2) facility will replace existing insulin production plants. Paris-based Sanofi says several hundred highly qualified specialists will work…
Sanofi, Novartis among Time’s most sustainable companies
Pharma giants Sanofi and Novartis came in at No. 7 and 17, respectively, in Time magazine’s “Most Sustainable Companies of 2024” rankings. Overall, nearly 40 of the 500 companies on the list fell under the category of Chemicals, Drugs & Biotechnology. Other large pharma companies making it into the top half of the 500 included…
Sanofi opens vaccine plant in Canada
French pharma giant Sanofi recently opened a pediatric and adult vaccine manufacturing facility on its Toronto campus. The facility officially opened on May 30. According to Sanofi, the new plant significantly increases its capacity to meet growing demand in Canada and around the world for pediatric and adult vaccines for pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and…
Genentech, Sanofi both plan to lay off hundreds around San Francisco
Genentech and Sanofi both plan to make significant headcount reductions in the San Francisco area, according to notices filed in the state of California. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the layoffs. The companies both filed WARN notices to notify the state of their intent to reduce their workforces. Genentech, a Roche unit, will permanently…
Sanofi offers a year of salary to employees facing cancer, critical illnesses
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…