Sanofi

Sanofi is a French multinational pharmaceutical company founded in 1973, headquartered in Paris, France. Under new CEO Belén Garijo (appointed April 2026), Sanofi reported 2025 sales of €43.63 billion with 9.9% growth, driven by the success of Dupixent. The company trades on Euronext Paris (SNY) and operates globally with approximately 100,000 employees across primary care, specialty care, vaccines, and consumer healthcare divisions.

Sanofi was founded in 1973 as a pharmaceutical subsidiary of Elf Aquitaine, a French oil and chemical company. The company began as a pharmaceutical manufacturer focused on developing and producing medicines. Sanofi's vision was to create innovative pharmaceutical solutions that would serve patients globally, establishing Sanofi as a pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry.

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Sanofi expanded its product portfolio and became known for its commitment to pharmaceutical innovation and quality. The company established itself as one of the world's leading pharmaceutical manufacturers, with products serving diverse therapeutic areas. Sanofi became a trusted brand among healthcare professionals and patients.

In the late 20th century, Sanofi became a leader in diabetes care and cardiovascular disease treatment. The company expanded globally and acquired numerous pharmaceutical companies, establishing itself as a leader in multiple therapeutic areas. Between 2008 and 2010, under CEO Chris Viehbacher, the company spent more than $17 billion in mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its consumer healthcare and generics platforms, especially in emerging markets, in the face of looming patent cliffs and the growth of the consumer health market.

In recent decades, Sanofi has continued to focus on innovation in specialty pharmaceuticals and vaccines. The company has invested heavily in research and development and has become a leader in immunology, oncology, and vaccines. Sanofi remains one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with a diverse portfolio spanning multiple therapeutic areas. The company's transformation into an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharmaceutical company represents its commitment to next-generation healthcare innovation.

In 2026, Sanofi underwent significant leadership changes as the Board of Directors decided not to renew CEO Paul Hudson's mandate. Hudson's last day as CEO was February 17, 2026, after six years of leadership during which he launched strategic initiatives and transformed the company. The Board appointed Belén Garijo as the new CEO, who will take up her duties on April 29, 2026, at the end of the company's Annual General Meeting. Garijo, who previously served as CEO of Merck KGaA and was the first woman to lead a DAX40 company in Germany, brings extensive experience from her 15 years at Sanofi and is expected to accelerate the implementation of Sanofi's strategy and strengthen R&D productivity and innovation capacity.