French pharmaceutical major Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) released its Q3 2022 financial report, recording EUR 12.482 billion (USD 12.394 billion) in global net sales, up 9% year-on-year (YOY) in constant exchange rates. The growth was driven by strong performances from Dupixent (dupilumab) and its flu vaccine. Within the total sales, the pharmaceuticals, vaccine, and consumer healthcare businesses generated EUR 7.896 billion (USD 7.842 billion), EUR 3.315 billion (USD 3.292 billion), and EUR 1.271 billion (USD 1.262 billion), up 5.1%, 23.5%, and 1.9% YOY, respectively.
Dupixent Sales Surge
Dupixent’s Q3 sales increased 44.5% to EUR 2.314 billion (USD 2.298 billion), driven by continued strong demand in the US and new indication approvals. In the Rest of the World region, Q3 sales reached EUR 270 million (USD 268 million), up 46.6%, driven mainly by sales in Japan and China.
Mixed Results for Plavix and Praluent
Plavix (clopidogrel) sales were down 1.4% in the third quarter at EUR 230 million (USD 228 million), reflecting consistent volume growth in China (sales were up 7.8% to EUR 106 million [USD 105 million]). This growth was offset by lower sales in Europe and the Rest of the World region, including Japan, where the product was impacted by a mandatory price cut in April. Praluent (alirocumab) third-quarter sales were EUR 83 million (USD 82 million), up 33.9%, driven by performance in Europe and an accelerated ramp-up in China due to inclusion in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) effective January 2022.
Insulin VBP Impact on China Sales
In China, Sanofi participated in the VBP tender for basal insulin analogues in November 2021, implemented from May 2022, and was among the bidding winners in Group A with Toujeo and Lantus. Q3 sales for Toujeo/Lantus in China were down 31.6% to EUR 102 million (USD 101.2 million), and down 13.7% to EUR 396 million (USD 393 million) over the 9-month Q1-Q3 period, mainly reflecting lower Lantus sales. Globally, Q3 Lantus sales were EUR 559 million (USD 554.7 million), down 17.7%.
Global and Regional Sales Trends
The VBP impact meant that Rest of the World region sales for Lantus were down 26.5% in May 2022. Third-quarter Toujeo sales increased 17.2% to EUR 304 million (USD 301.6 million), reflecting growth in Europe and the Rest of the World region, with Toujeo benefiting from strong demand in China and favorable phasing. Overall, in 2022, Sanofi expects its glargine sales to decrease by no more than 30% in China, benefiting from higher volumes at significantly lower prices.-Fineline Info & Tech
