US private equity firm set to win Sanofi’s consumer health division

The deal for the pharmaceutical giant is one of the biggest of its kind.

It is likely to give CD&R a controlling stake in the division and is estimated to be worth about €15bn. Sanofi has been trying to divest of this unit for about a year, in an attempt to focus more on its core products, which include treatments for rare diseases, cancer and other health issues. 

At present, Opella is headquartered in France and, as well as Doliprane and Allegra, also include Novanight, Dulcolax and Icy Hot. It also produces a wide range of supplements, vitamins and minerals, with more than half a billion global customers. 

Opella has operations in 100 countries, with more than 11,000 employees. It also has four innovation and research centres and 13 manufacturing sites. 

Sanofi said in a press release: “Opella’s journey to independence aligns with Sanofi’s strategy to focus on innovative medicines and vaccines. 

“Opella already operates today as a standalone business unit within Sanofi, with dedicated resources for R&D, production, digital, and with its own sustainability roadmap. Opella is now a leading company in its sector, focused on brands and consumer-oriented, and achieved 6.3% sales growth at constant exchange rates in 2023.”

Sanofi is the latest in a long line of major pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, GSK, Pfizer and more, who have also chosen to sell less profitable divisions in order to focus on better-performing ones. 

Following the news, France’s Industry Minister, Marc Ferracci: “reminded both parties of the government’s points of vigilance, both on the economic and health levels”.

Some of the government requirements, should the deal go ahead, are likely to include the “maintenance of the headquarters and decision-making centres on national territory”.

US approves Sanofi’s Dupixent for pulmonary disease patients

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Sanofi’s drug Dupixent, which is used to help the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That is the first biologic drug gaining approval in the US, with the medicine already having been approved in China and the EU. 

Paul Hudson, the chief executive officer (CEO) at Sanofi, said in a press release: “Dupixent has already shown it can revolutionise the treatment paradigm of many diseases driven in part by type 2 inflammation with high unmet medical needs, with one million patients being treated globally across all currently approved indications. 

“With today’s approval, Dupixent once again paves the way and becomes the first and only approved add-on biologic medicine for inadequately controlled COPD, giving patients living with this devastating disease the chance to look forward to the potential of improved breathing and a life with fewer exacerbations.”

Jean Wright, chief executive officer (CEO) of The COPD Foundation said: “People living with inadequately controlled COPD have long awaited new medicines to help manage the daily suffering they experience from breathlessness, coughing, wheezing, exhaustion and unpredictable hospitalisation. 

“These patients often struggle with everyday activities many people take for granted such as taking a walk or running errands outside the home. We welcome the approval of this new therapeutic option to offer patients a new way to help gain better control of their disease.”