Sanofi Reports 3.3% YOY Sales Growth in Q2 2023, Driven by Vaccines and Dupixent

France-based Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) has released its financial results for the second quarter of 2023, reporting a 3.3% year-on-year (YOY) increase in global sales, reaching EUR 9.965 billion (USD 10.98 billion) in constant exchange rate terms. Key growth drivers included sales from vaccines and the anti-allergy drug Dupixent (dupilumab).

Dupixent’s Strong Performance and Future Indications
Dupixent, an IL-4/IL-13-targeted antibody drug used to treat various allergic diseases such as eczema, asthma, and nasal polyps resulting in chronic sinusitis, saw sales expand by 33% in Q2 to EUR 2.56 billion (USD 2.82 billion). With H1’23 sales exceeding EUR 4.8 billion, Dupixent is on track to approach the EUR 10 billion (USD 11 billion) annual sales mark. Sanofi has previously forecasted that the drug’s annual sales could peak at EUR 13 billion. Dupixent is also awaiting approval decisions for new indications in the US, including chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), with a potential patient pool of 300,000 in the US for CSU alone.

Growth from Nexviazyme and Vaccines
Another significant contributor to growth was the Pompe disease therapy Nexviazyme (avalglucosidase alfa), with sales increasing by 146.5% to EUR 103 million (USD 114 million). These two drugs helped offset generic competition to the multiple sclerosis drug Aubagio (teriflunomide) in the US and drove the Specialty Sales division to an 11.8% growth. The Vaccines segment also saw a 9.1% growth, thanks to Pertussis and Hib (PPH) sales. Meanwhile, the Consumer Health segment experienced a 0.7% expansion, and General Medicines saw a -7.3% growth.

China Market Returns to Growth and Geographical Sales Overview
Geographically, the US market dipped by -1.7% to EUR 3.92 billion, Europe expanded by +3.8% to EUR 2.46 billion, and the Rest of World grew at 8.5% YOY to EUR 3.6 billion. In the China market, Q2’23 sales reached EUR 785 million (USD 864.6 million) after a 6.3% growth, while H1’23 sales were down by -4.5% to EUR 1.54 billion (USD 1.69 billion). Local growth drivers in China included the Pentaxim PPH vaccine and the diabetes drug Toujeo (insulin glargine).

Upcoming Drug Approvals and Global Developments
Among the key new drug approvals for Sanofi in the remainder of the year is the US launch of Beyfortus (nirsevimab), a single-dose, long-acting antibody to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants. Beyfortus received its first US FDA approval in July this year for the prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in newborns and infants. The drug is co-developed with AstraZeneca, with the UK firm handling commercialization outside the United States.-Fineline Info & Tech

Insight, China's Pharmaceutical Industry