Sanofi sales lifted by diabetes and rare diseases
pharmafile | February 6, 2015 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Genzyme, Lantus, Sanofi, diabetes, financials, insulin glargine, praluent, q4
Sanofi racked up €7.4 billion in sales in the fourth quarter of 2014 according to the company’s latest financials report.
The figures from the French pharma giant show sales by its pharmaceutical business increased by 2.6% compared to the last quarter of 2013 to €7.4 billion, “driven by the US and emerging markets”.
Sanofi’s sales were also driven by strong performances by the pharma division’s diabetes products, which were up 11% in the fourth quarter of 2014, and to which Lantus (insulin glargine) contributed €1.8 billion in sales.
Sales were also boosted by high margins from the company’s biotech arm Genzyme, which registered €746 million in sales of multiple sclerosis and rare disease products.
Sanofi is pinning its hopes of a 2015 sales increase on its Phase III product pipeline – which includes regulatory filings for Praluent, positive late-stage trial results of a dengue virus vaccine and new insulin Toujeo, a new long-lasting insulin glargine which will enter the final stages of the regulatory process in the US and the EU the first and second-quarter of 2015 respectively.
The report predicts a “stable to slightly growing versus 2014 at constant average exchange rates, barring major unforeseen adverse events”. Full-year 2014 sales for pharmaceuticals grew by 4.4% to €27.8 billion.
Overall company sales were up by 4.6% at constant exchange rate (CER) compared with the last quarter of the previous year, while year-on-year sales reached €33.8 billion, an increase of 4.9% (CER).
Chief executive Serge Weinberg says: “I am very pleased with our strong performance in 2014. In the last quarter of the year, we were entirely focused on delivering growth, further strengthening innovation and improving execution. All in all, I feel confident about the future success of the group and how we can adapt to an ever changing healthcare environment.”
Weinberg also spoke about the Sanofi’s ongoing search for a new chief executive after former chief executive Chris Viebacher was unanimously voted out by the board at the end of last year.
“The board is making good progress in its search for a strong business leader with a deep understanding of our industry and a broad management experience. We are confident that we can make an announcement during the course of the first quarter.”
Lilian Anekwe
Related Content
Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent receives CHMP recommendation for chronic spontaneous urticaria
Sanofi and Regeneron have received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee …
Sanofi’s treatment granted orphan designation for rare chronic inflammatory condition
The European Medicines Agency has granted orphan designation to Sanofi’s investigational Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) …
Sanofi completes acquisition of Vigil Neuroscience to early neurology pipeline
Sanofi has announced that it has finalised its acquisition of Vigil Neuroscience, a US-based biotechnology …
