Sanofi Posts Higher Sales Amid Leadership Transition

By Andrea Figueras

France's Sanofi booked an increase in sales for the first quarter, boosted by new launches and recent acquisitions at a time when the group undergoes a leadership change.

The drugmaker on Thursday reported net sales of 10.51 billion euros ($12.30 billion) for the period, up around 14% on year at constant currency. Business operating profit--one of the company's preferred metrics--jumped nearly 11% to 2.97 billion euros compared with the prior-year period.

Analysts had expected 10.22 billion euros in sales and business operating profit of 2.85 billion euros for the quarter, according to Vara Research.

Earlier this year, the company said it didn't renew the mandate of Paul Hudson as chief executive and appointed Belen Garijo, the boss of German peer Merck KGaA, to succeed him.

Garijo, who will step into the top role at the end of the group's annual general meeting on April 29, faces the challenge to replace sales from blockbuster Dupixent--an anti-inflammatory drug jointly developed with Regeneron--once the medicine goes off patent.

Sanofi confirmed its guidance for the current year. It continues to forecast sales to grow by a high single-digit percentage, and business earnings per share to grow slightly faster than sales, both at constant exchange rates.

Write to Andrea Figueras at andrea.figueras@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 23, 2026 02:12 ET (06:12 GMT)