Sanofi banks on personalised medicine for growth
pharmafile | September 8, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Genzyme, Sanofi
Sanofi has nailed its colours to the mast of personalised medicine, banking on the purchase of US biotech company Genzyme, bought for $20.1 billion earlier this year, as a key driver to spur long-term growth.
The French pharma manufacturer said it expects sales growth of at least 5% on average in the period 2012 to 2015, with cost control measures announced in 2009 plus Genzyme synergies saving 2 billion euros by 2015.
The orphan drugs made by Genzyme will help Sanofi offset looming US patent expiries – set to cost the company 1.4 billion euros in lost sales next year as some of its biggest earners such as Plavix and hypertension drug Avapro lose their exclusivity.
Plavix is already facing rapid sales erosion in Europe, where sales of the blood-thinning dropped 49% last year.
Sanofi’s focus over the next four years will be a combination of what the company calls ‘growth platforms’ – including emerging markets, human vaccines, diabetes solutions, consumer health and innovative products – and Genzyme, which are expected to provide more than 80% of group sales in 2015.
Emerging markets are expected to account for up to 40% of sales by that time, compared to 29% last year.
“Sanofi has undergone an impressive transformation over the last two and a half years and the patent cliff is now almost behind us,” said Sanofi chief executive Christopher Viehbacher.
“While 2012 will be impacted by the loss of exclusivity of Plavix and Avapro in the US, Sanofi is set to embark upon a period of consistent and sustainable growth,” he added.
When it comes to R&D, the company also insists it is on track to launch 19 projects by the end of 2015, with six scheduled for filing by March next year.
And in what it hopes will be a filip for investors, Sanofi is also predicting average earnings per share growth per year to be above sales growth between 2012 and 2015.
Adam Hill
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