France’s Sanofi (EPA: SAN) released its financial report last week, showing turnover during Q4 and full-year 2022 at EUR 10.7 billion (USD 11.6 billion) and EUR 43.0 billion (USD 46.4 billion) respectively. This represents year-on-year (YOY) growth of 2.6% and 7.0% at constant exchange rates (CER). The results highlight Sanofi’s continued strength in Specialty Care and Vaccines.
Business Unit Performance
Sales during the 12-month period were led by Specialty Care, which achieved EUR 16.5 billion (USD 17.8 billion) after a 19.4% YOY expansion driven by immunomodulator Dupixent (dupilumab). The Vaccines business unit also performed strongly, generating EUR 7.2 billion (USD 7.8 billion) with a 6.3% YOY increase. The travel and endemic vaccines sector was the best-performing area, rising 57.8%. Consumer Healthcare contributed EUR 5.1 billion (USD 5.5 billion) after an 8.6% increase, while the General Medicines area dropped 4.2% to EUR 14.2 billion (USD 15.4 billion).
Top Performers
Dupixent was the top money-maker, leading 2022 pharmaceutical sales at EUR 8.3 billion (USD 8.9 billion) after a 42.1% YOY surge driven by strong demand across all regions. Other key products included next-generation insulin Lantus (insulin glargine) at EUR 2.3 billion (USD 2.4 billion), multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Aubagio (teriflunomide) at EUR 2.0 billion (USD 2.2 billion), anticoagulant Lovenox (enoxaparin sodium) at EUR 1.3 billion (USD 1.4 billion), and anti-diabetic Toujeo (recombinant insulin glargine) at EUR 1.1 billion (USD 1.2 billion).
CEO’s Perspective and Future Outlook
Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson highlighted regulatory approvals for several key medicines and Specialty Care product launches in 2022 as part of the firm’s 6-year ‘Play to Win’ strategy. Sanofi is looking forward to key pivotal trial readouts and the arrivals of hemophilia A treatment Altuviiio (efanesoctocog alfa) and antiviral Beyfortus (nirsevimab). Hudson expressed confidence in maintaining performance during 2023, with Dupixent’s ongoing strength expected to offset the arrival of Aubagio generics.
China Market Performance
Sanofi maintained single-digit growth in the China market, with sales up 2% YOY in Q4 to EUR 578 million (USD 624 million) and up 6.2% YOY to EUR 3.1 billion (USD 3.37 billion) over the 12 months. The company benefited from winning a tender spot in China’s national Volume-based Procurement (VBP) program for blood thinner Plavix (clopidogrel), with China’s Plavix sales up 21.6% in Q4 to EUR 108 million (USD 116.5 million).
Impact of VBP on Insulin Sales
The insulin VBP in China, held in November 2021 and impacting the market from May 2022, influenced sales of Lantus and Toujeo. Sanofi participated in and won VBP tenders for both products. Despite this, Toujeo and Lantus sales grew 18.6% YOY in Q4 to EUR 51 million (USD 55 million), attributed to favorable base comparisons due to price and inventory adjustments in Q4 2021. Sanofi’s head of General Medicines, Olivier Charmeil, noted that total glargine sales (Toujeo and Lantus) are expected to be down 10.7% in China in 2023.
New Approvals and Market Launch
Finally, Sanofi secured approval for Soliqua (insulin glargine + lixisenatide) in China in January and plans to launch the product in Q2.-Fineline Info & Tech
