Sanofi, the largest private contributor to France’s health ecosystem security and independence, announced a €1 billion investment to expand bioproduction at its sites in Vitry-sur-Seine, Le Trait, and Lyon Gerland. This initiative will create over 500 jobs, enhancing France’s capacity to produce essential medicines.
In Vitry-sur-Seine, a €1 billion investment will double monoclonal antibody production, generating 350 jobs. This site will produce biologics for conditions such as COPD, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes, supporting millions of patients globally.
At the Le Trait site in Normandy, Sanofi is investing €100 million to expand biologics formulation, filling, device assembly, and packaging, supporting future biologics and vaccines, including Dupixent® for COPD. This will create 150 jobs.
In Lyon Gerland, Sanofi will spend €10 million to produce TZield® for type 1 diabetes in France, a biologic acquired in April 2023.
Sanofi’s CEO, Paul Hudson, emphasized the company’s commitment to developing best-in-class medicines and vaccines and maintaining France at the core of its strategy. Sanofi conducts over 60% of its global production in the EU and sources only 5% of its active ingredients from Asia.
These investments add to the €3.5 billion Sanofi has committed since the COVID-19 pandemic to bolster drug and vaccine production in France, including:
- €500 million in Neuville-sur-Saône for a low-carbon, LEED-certified facility for biological drugs and vaccines, including mRNA, launching in 2025.
- €250 million in Val de Reuil for Europe’s largest flu vaccine production unit.
- €60 million in Sisteron for a small-volume launch unit for active ingredients.
- €20 million in Lisieux to increase Doliprane® production by 140 million boxes annually.
- €15 million in Tours for a high-volume granulation unit and tablet-coating line to produce high cholesterol drugs for 20 countries, mainly in Europe and Asia.
Audrey Derveloy, President of Sanofi France, highlighted Sanofi’s historical commitment to enhancing France’s strategic production capabilities. These efforts align with Sanofi’s “Play to Win” strategy, focusing on cutting-edge science and aiming to lead in immunology. To support this, Sanofi will increase its R&D investment by €700 million annually over the next two years, having already invested €6.7 billion in R&D in 2023.
