Sanofi Aims To Launch 18 New Drugs By 2020
November 20, 2014
By Mark Terry, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff
Paris-based Sanofi announced today its plan to launch up to 18 new drugs between 2014 and 2020. The company plans to provide more details at an IR Thematic Seminar on New Medicines later in the day in Boston.
Today’s seminar will focus on nine drugs and vaccines. Those will include: Cerdelga (eliglustat), an FDA-approved oral drug for adult Gaucher Disease Type 1 patients; Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for multiple sclerosis; Praluent (alirocumab), an investigational monoclonal antibody developed in collaboration with Regeneron for potential treatment of LDL-cholesterol management; Toujeo, Afrezza, and Lixilan, for diabetes; a vaccine for dengue fever; Sarilumab, an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody developed with Regeneron as a possible therapy for rheumatoid arthritis; and Dupilumab, also developed with Regeneron, for treatment of asthma and chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps.
“These potential launches affirm Sanofi’s strategy, which has been in place since 2008, and clearly demonstrate the strong momentum of Sanofi’s R&D pipeline,” said Serge Weinberg, interim CEO and board chairman in a statement. “As we move into this period of successive new product launches, we are investing in launch excellence and execution while continuing to fuel innovation to grow our existing pipeline.”
This seems somewhat ironic, in that Weinberg spearheaded the ouster of Sanofi CEO Chris Viehbacher, who helmed the company and its strategy since 2008. This new conference will outline the continuing strategy, but is undoubtedly also designed to reassure shareholders that the company will continue in good hands and will continue with a winning approach to markets.
Of particular interest is Sanofi’s new diabetes-related medications. The company has indicated that between 2015 and 2018 its global drug sales are expected to provide little or no growth. The primary mover in their diabetes portfolio is Lantus. The company expects patients to transition from Lantus to Toujeo in the U.S. and Europe.
The 18 new drugs have the potential to bring in more than $38 billion within the first five years of their sales, assuming all the drugs make it to market.
“Sanofi’s global R&D teams have created an impressive dynamic that leverages internal talents and open innovation to develop an industry-leading pipeline,” said Elias Zerhouni, president of Global Research and Development of Sanofi in a statement. “Sanofi has the potential to launch up to six new medicines in 2015 and approximately one new medicine every six months between 2016 and 2018. These new medicines have the potential to help address significant areas of need in rare diseases, cardiovascular care, diabetes, immunology and public health.”