Sanofi and Cheplapharm Plan Strategic Partnership for 20 Mature Medicines

Cheplapharm to Take Over Selected Medicines and Three Manufacturing Sites

Sanofi and Cheplapharm have announced plans to create a strategic partnership involving a selection of 20 mature medicines and three manufacturing sites around the world.

Under the proposed deal, Cheplapharm would take over the selected medicines and manufacturing operations from Sanofi. In return, Sanofi would receive a 26.4% equity stake in Cheplapharm.

The partnership builds on a relationship between the two companies that began in 2014.

The companies said the deal is designed to give mature medicines a business model that is better suited to their manufacturing, regulatory and commercial needs.

Why Sanofi Is Moving Mature Medicines to Cheplapharm

Sanofi has been working for several years to simplify its portfolio of mature medicines.

The company said this approach allows it to focus more of its resources on research and innovation while ensuring that established medicines continue to reach patients.

Mature medicines are products that have been available for many years and have already gone through much of their development and commercialization lifecycle. They can still be important treatments for patients even when a company is no longer focusing its main research efforts on them.

Cheplapharm specializes in managing these types of medicines.

Cheplapharm Will Focus on the Next Stage of the Medicines' Lifecycle

Cheplapharm is a European pharmaceutical company that focuses on well-established originator medicines.

The company will use its experience in managing mature products to support the medicines being transferred from Sanofi.

This includes managing manufacturing, regulatory requirements and commercial activities as the products continue through the next stage of their lifecycle.

The companies said the partnership is based on the idea that innovative medicines and mature medicines require different operating models.

Lovenox/Clexane Is Included in the Portfolio

One of the key medicines included in the transaction is Lovenox/Clexane, which contains enoxaparin.

The medicine is an established anticoagulant used to help prevent and treat blood clots.

Cheplapharm said the transaction will give it the expertise and manufacturing capabilities needed to produce the product.

The company described the addition of Lovenox/Clexane as an important part of its long-term pharmaceutical and manufacturing plans.

Three Manufacturing Sites Will Move to Cheplapharm

The proposed partnership also includes the transfer of three Sanofi manufacturing sites.

The sites are located in Hungary, Singapore and France.

The Csanyikvölgy site in Hungary has around 400 employees. The Jurong site in Singapore has around 100 employees, while the Ploërmel site in France has around 65 employees.

Together, these sites represent approximately 565 employees.

Existing Employment Arrangements Are Expected to Continue

Sanofi and Cheplapharm said employees at the three sites would continue their activities under existing employment arrangements.

Collective agreements would also be maintained.

The two companies plan to work together during the transition to help maintain manufacturing operations and continuity of supply.

The companies also said production would continue to follow the required manufacturing quality standards.

The Partnership Builds on a Relationship That Started in 2014

Sanofi and Cheplapharm have worked together for more than a decade.

Their relationship began in 2014 and has included previous transactions involving Sanofi's mature medicines portfolio.

The new partnership builds on that earlier cooperation by combining a larger portfolio transfer with manufacturing capabilities and an equity relationship.

Sanofi's 26.4% stake in Cheplapharm will give the companies a continuing financial relationship after the transaction.

What Sanofi Says About the Deal

Thomas Grenier, executive vice president of general medicines at Sanofi, said the company has been simplifying its mature portfolio while continuing to make sure established medicines remain available to patients.

He said Cheplapharm has been a trusted partner for more than a decade and that the new transaction builds on previous acquisitions from Sanofi's mature medicines portfolio.

Sanofi said the partnership will allow it to continue focusing on innovation while supporting the medicines being transferred into their next stage of development and commercialization.

What Cheplapharm Says About the Partnership

Cheplapharm co-CEOs Edeltraud Lafer and Sebastian Braun said the transaction represents a long-term pharmaceutical and industrial commitment for the company.

They said the company plans to invest in the manufacturing sites and maintain the expertise needed to produce the medicines.

The company also highlighted the importance of preserving specialized skills and supporting the long-term availability of the treatments.

When Will the Transaction Take Place?

The commercial transfer of the selected medicines is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

The transfer of the manufacturing sites is expected to follow.

However, the transaction still depends on several conditions.

These include employee information and consultation procedures with employee representatives, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The companies currently expect the full transaction to be completed by the third quarter of 2027.

Sanofi's 2026 Financial Guidance Is Not Expected to Change

Sanofi said the proposed transaction is not expected to affect its financial guidance for 2026.

The company has not yet provided all financial details related to the transaction.

Additional information is expected to be released at a later stage.

What the Deal Means for Sanofi

For Sanofi, the partnership is part of its broader effort to focus its business around innovation while allowing established medicines to continue serving patients.

Instead of managing every mature medicine within its own organization, Sanofi can transfer selected products to a company that specializes in this part of the pharmaceutical market.

Sanofi will also maintain a financial connection with Cheplapharm through its 26.4% equity stake.

What the Deal Means for Cheplapharm

For Cheplapharm, the transaction expands its portfolio and adds manufacturing capabilities in three countries.

The company already focuses on established originator medicines and has built its business around acquiring and managing products with long commercial histories.

The addition of 20 medicines and three manufacturing sites would further expand that business model.

Cheplapharm Has Built a Large Mature Medicines Portfolio

Cheplapharm is a family-owned pharmaceutical company based in Germany.

The company specializes in well-established originator medicines and follows a long-term approach to portfolio growth.

According to the company, it has invested more than €6.2 billion since its inception and acquired nearly 100 products since 2015.

It currently holds 3,440 marketing authorizations across 160 countries.

Cheplapharm also describes itself as the market leader in France and a leading European company in the mature medicines segment.

What Happens Next?

Sanofi and Cheplapharm will now work through the regulatory, employee consultation and other requirements needed to complete the transaction.

The commercial transfer of the medicines is expected to start in early 2027, followed by the transfer of the three manufacturing sites.

If all required conditions and approvals are completed, the companies expect the partnership to be fully implemented by the third quarter of 2027.

The selected medicines, including Lovenox/Clexane, will then continue under Cheplapharm's management as part of its established medicines portfolio.

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