Sanofi, Pfizer, AstraZeneca Commit $2.16B in France

Several leaders from the pharmaceutical industry have announced major investments in France ahead of the French government’s annual Choose France economic summit. The total investment from these companies amounts to approximately $2.16 billion (€2 billion), as reported by several media outlets.

Sanofi has declared plans to invest over $1.08 billion (€1 billion) to enhance its biomanufacturing capabilities and strengthen France’s control over the production of essential medicines. This new investment is in addition to Sanofi's earlier commitment of nearly $2.7 billion (€2 billion) aimed at supporting health sovereignty in the country.

A significant portion of Sanofi's new investment will be allocated to its Vitry-sur-Seine site, where a new facility will be constructed to double the production capacity for monoclonal antibodies. This site will also potentially be used to manufacture several biologic pipeline products, including prospective treatments for asthma, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Smaller investments will be directed towards Sanofi’s facilities in Le Trait and Lyon Gerland to further expand their manufacturing capacities. Sanofi expects these investments to create more than 500 new jobs.

Sanofi’s CEO, Paul Hudson, stated that the company has a "record number" of investigational medicines and vaccines with best-in-class potential, which could address public health challenges. Hudson emphasized that with these unprecedented industrial investments, Sanofi continues its tradition of choosing France for the production of future medicines.

In addition to Sanofi, Pfizer and AstraZeneca have also announced substantial investments in France. Pfizer has committed approximately $539 million to bolster its R&D efforts in the country, while AstraZeneca has pledged about $388 million towards its Dunkirk site.

Previously, in January 2022, Pfizer had announced a $560 million (€520 million) investment in France over the next five years to expand the availability of its COVID-19 pill, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir).

GSK is also anticipated to reveal investment plans at the Choose France summit, although details have not yet been disclosed.

Moreover, Sanofi has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Fulcrum Therapeutics to develop and commercialize losmapimod, an oral small molecule drug candidate for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Under this agreement, Sanofi will pay Fulcrum $80 million upfront and could potentially pay up to $975 million based on regulatory and sales milestones. Fulcrum will also receive tiered royalties starting in the low teens on sales outside the U.S. In exchange, Sanofi gains exclusive rights to market losmapimod internationally, while Fulcrum retains U.S. commercialization rights.