Sanofi has announced an investment of EUR 1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) to create new bioproduction capacity at its sites in France: Vitry-sur-Seine (Val de Marne), Le Trait (Seine-Maritime) and Lyon Gerland (Rhône).   

In Vitry-sur-Seine, Sanofi will invest EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) to build a new facility that will double the site’s monoclonal antibody production capacity. Several biologics in development among what Sanofi projects as 12 potential blockbusters, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma, multiple sclerosis or Type 1 diabetes, could be produced in Vitry. Sanofi anticipates the creation of 350 jobs as a result of this investment. 

At its site in Le Trait, Normandy, Sanofi will invest EUR 100 million ($109 million) to develop new capacity for biologics formulation, filling, device assembly and packaging. It will support the launch of future biologics and vaccines, as well as the continued growth of Dupixent (dupilumab), an anti-inflammatory drug for multiple indications, including atopic dermatitis and asthma. Dupixent was the company’s top-selling drug in 2023 with sales of EUR 10.7 billion ($11.6 billion). This investment will support 150 jobs. 

In its site in Lyon Gerland, Sanofi is investing EUR 10 million ($11 million) to locate the production in France of TZield (teplizumab-mzwv), a drug to treat Type 1 diabetes. Sanofi acquired the drug in April 2023 through its $2.9-billion acquisition of Provention Bio, a Red Bank, New Jersey-based bio/pharmaceutical company; the drug has been manufactured outside Europe. 

The EUR 1 billion ($1.1 billion) biomanufacturing investment project by Sanofi is in addition to EUR 2.5 billion ($2.71 billion) already committed in major projects in France. These projects include: 

• In Neuville-sur-Saône, nearly EUR 500 million ($543 million) to build a manufacturing facility for biological drugs and vaccines, including mRNA, scheduled to launch in 2025. 
• In Val de Reuil, EUR 250 million ($272 million) to build a flu vaccine production unit and locate several production stages of Fluzone High-Dose /Efluelda, its high-dose flu vaccine, in France. 
• In Sisteron, EUR 60 million ($65 million) to build a small-volume launch unit for the production of active ingredients. 
• In Lisieux, EUR 20 million ($22 million) to increase production capacity by 140 million boxes per year for Doliprane (acetaminophen), an analgesic. 
• In Tours, EUR 15 million ($16 million) to locate the production of an anti-cholesterol drug in France. This investment will allow the construction of a new high-volume granulation unit and a tablet-coating line in a new building. The capacity of this new unit will be around 700 million boxes per year for some 20 countries, particularly in Europe and Asia. 

Source: Sanofi