Sanofi to Divest 20 Mature Medicines and Three Manufacturing Sites to Cheplapharm in Equity-Linked Partnership
核心洞察
Sanofi and Cheplapharm (搜索) announced a strategic partnership under which Cheplapharm would take over 20 mature medicines and three manufacturing sites worldwide.
Sanofi will receive a 26.4% equity stake in Cheplapharm (搜索), building on a collaboration between the two companies that began in 2014.
The divested portfolio includes Lovenox/Clexane (enoxaparin), excluding the US, with commercial transfer planned to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
Sanofi and Cheplapharm (搜索) announced on September 14, 2026 their intention to create a strategic partnership under which Cheplapharm, a European leader in well-established medicines, would take over from Sanofi a selection of 20 mature medicines and three manufacturing sites worldwide. In return, Sanofi will receive a 26.4% equity stake in Cheplapharm, building on a collaboration that started in 2014.
The two companies framed the deal around a shared conviction that innovative medicines and certain mature medicines have different needs and should benefit from operating models tailored to their specific manufacturing, regulatory and commercial requirements. According to the announcement, Cheplapharm (搜索)'s specialized expertise will ensure these medicines continue to meet patients' needs throughout the next stage of their lifecycle.
Portfolio and Manufacturing Footprint
The medicines being divested from Sanofi include Lovenox/Clexane (enoxaparin), excluding in the US. Cheplapharm (搜索) described the acquisition as incorporating products that complement its extensive portfolio, as well as the expertise and manufacturing capabilities required to produce a flagship product, Lovenox/Clexane.
Three manufacturing sites would be transferred to Cheplapharm (搜索) as part of the project: Csanyikvölgy in Hungary (approximately 400 employees), Jurong in Singapore (approximately 100 employees), and Ploërmel in France (approximately 65 employees). The teams would continue their activities with existing employment arrangements and collective agreements maintained. Sanofi and Cheplapharm stated they will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of supply in compliance with the highest manufacturing quality standards.
Executive Commentary
"Our multi-year journey to simplify our mature portfolio has enabled us to focus on innovation while ensuring mature medicines continue to reach patients who need them," said Thomas Grenier, Executive Vice President, General Medicines, Sanofi. "Cheplapharm (搜索) has been a trusted partner for more than a decade and this transaction significantly builds on its prior acquisitions from Sanofi's mature medicines portfolio. This new partnership, together with our equity stake in Cheplapharm, underscores our commitment to ensuring patients continue to benefit from today's essential medicines while also pursuing tomorrow's breakthroughs."
Edeltraud Lafer and Sebastian Braun, both Co-CEOs of Cheplapharm (搜索), said the partnership marks a major milestone for the company. "Through this project, we are incorporating products that complement our extensive portfolio, as well as the expertise and manufacturing capabilities required to produce a flagship product, Lovenox/Clexane," they said. "This represents a long-term pharmaceutical and industrial commitment: to invest in our sites and their expertise, to preserve rare skills, and to ensure the long-term availability of these treatments for patients."
Timeline and Conditions
The commercial transfer of the medicine portfolio is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2027, followed by the transfer of the sites. The transaction is subject to employee information and consultation procedures with employee representatives, regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, and is expected to be fully completed by the third quarter of 2027.
For Cheplapharm (搜索), the partnership represents an important step ensuring the continuity of its strategic growth. For Sanofi, it will enable the company to continue focusing its efforts on innovation while supporting certain established medicines through the next stage of their lifecycle.
Financial Considerations
The proposed transaction is not expected to have any impact on Sanofi's financial guidance for 2026. Additional financial details are expected to be provided at a later stage.
Cheplapharm (搜索) is a European family-owned pharmaceutical company based in Germany, specializing in well-established originator medicines. The group has invested more than €6.2 billion since its inception, acquired nearly 100 products since 2015, and holds 3,440 marketing authorizations across 160 countries. It is the market leader in France and a leading European player in this market segment.
Sanofi, an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY, noted that the transaction carries risks including the possibility that it will not be completed or will not be completed in the expected timeframe, failure to satisfy required closing conditions, delays in meeting those requirements, the ability to obtain regulatory clearances, and the possibility that expected strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities may not be realized or may take longer than expected to materialize.