French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi SA (NASDAQ: SNY) released its Q3 2023 financial results, reporting a net sales decrease of -4.1% year-on-year (YOY) but an increase of 3.2% in constant currency terms, reaching EUR 11.96 billion (USD 12.64 billion). Despite maintaining the forecast for 2023 earnings per share (EPS) growth, Sanofi downgraded its 2024 EPS forecast to fall by low-single digits due to planned increased R&D investment and tax rate changes.
Strategic Planning and R&D Investment
The planned increase in R&D spending is part of Sanofi’s strategic planning, which includes strategic cost reductions and a sharper focus on innovative drug development. This strategy involves spinning off its consumer healthcare (CHC) business unit to function independently. The spinoff, while not yet finalized, is expected to take place no earlier than Q4 2024.
Market Reaction and Key Product Performance
The market reacted negatively to the news, with Sanofi’s shares dropping 19.13% in Friday trading. Despite this, vaccines sales and the anti-allergy drug Dupixent (dupilumab) continued to drive growth, along with a strong launch for the new hemophilia therapy ALTUVIIIO (recombinant Factor VIII). Generic competition against the multiple sclerosis drug Aubagio (teriflunomide) presented challenges.
Dupixent Sales and Specialty Medicines Growth
Dupixent sales expanded significantly, up 32.9% YOY during the quarter to EUR 2.85 billion (USD 3.01 billion), contributing to a 13.5% YOY growth in Sanofi’s Specialty Medicines unit, which reached EUR 4.64 billion. In contrast, General Medicines sales dipped -6.6% to EUR 2.99 billion, while CHC grew by 4.6% to EUR 1.25 billion, and Vaccines sales dipped -0.6% to EUR 3.1 billion.
China Market Performance
In the China market, Sanofi’s local business experienced a -2.5% YOY decline during Q3’23 to EUR 728 million and a -3.8% decrease over the 9-month year-to-date period to EUR 2.268 billion. Key performers in China include Dupixent, the anti-cholesterol drug Praluent (alirocumab), and the blood thinner Plavix (clopidogrel). However, volume-based procurement (VBP) has negatively impacted other parts of the portfolio, with drugs like Lantus (insulin glargine), Lovenox, and Aprovel (irbesartan) experiencing sales shrinkage.
Conclusion
Sanofi SA’s Q3 2023 financials reflect a mixed performance, with Dupixent leading the growth in Specialty Medicines. The company’s strategic focus on R&D and potential spinoff of its CHC business unit highlight its commitment to innovation and adapting to market dynamics. Despite the challenges, Sanofi remains a key player in the global pharmaceutical industry.-Fineline Info & Tech
