Key Stats
Revenue (2024): €44.29 billion
Market Cap: $122 billion (as of November 2025)
Employees: 82,878 worldwide
Headquarters: Paris, France
CEO: Paul Hudson (since 2019)
Sanofi is a global pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in Paris, France. The company specializes in prescription medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products across therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, and rare diseases.
Sanofi traces its roots to multiple pharmaceutical pioneers dating back to 1718. The modern company formed through a series of mergers, with Sanofi and Synthélabo combining in 1999, followed by the Aventis acquisition in 2004. The company simplified its name from Sanofi-Aventis to Sanofi in 2011.
Dupixent, developed with partner Regeneron, generates over €10 billion annually and treats conditions including eczema and asthma. Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division, produces immunizations administered worldwide.
Sanofi History
1718
Laboratoires Midy founded by a family of pharmacists in France. This marked one of the earliest origins of companies that would eventually become part of Sanofi.
1887
Marcel Mérieux, a student of Louis Pasteur, founded the Mérieux Biological Institute. This institute later became Sanofi Pasteur, the company’s vaccine division.
1973
Sanofi established as a pharmaceutical subsidiary of French oil company Elf Aquitaine. The company began consolidating various French pharmaceutical operations.
1999
Sanofi merged with Synthélabo to create Sanofi-Synthélabo. Separately, Rhône-Poulenc and Hoechst Marion Roussel formed Aventis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
2004
Sanofi-Synthélabo acquired Aventis for €55 billion, creating Sanofi-Aventis. The merger positioned the company as the third-largest pharmaceutical group globally.
2011
Sanofi acquired Genzyme Corporation for $20.1 billion and simplified its name from Sanofi-Aventis to Sanofi. Genzyme became the center for rare disease treatments.
2017
Dupixent received FDA approval for atopic dermatitis treatment. The drug, developed with Regeneron, became one of the best-selling pharmaceuticals globally.
2024
Sanofi reported €44.29 billion in revenue. Dupixent sales exceeded €14 billion. The company acquired Inhibrx for up to $2.2 billion and announced plans to separate its Consumer Healthcare business.
Sanofi Co-founders
Jean-René Sautier
Founding president of Sanofi in 1973 when it was established as a subsidiary of Elf Aquitaine. He led the company’s early pharmaceutical consolidation efforts in France.
Marcel Mérieux
Founded the Mérieux Biological Institute in 1887 as a student of Louis Pasteur. This institute became Sanofi Pasteur, now one of the world’s largest vaccine producers.
Laboratoires Dausse and Robert & Carrière
Founded in 1834 and 1901 respectively, these laboratories merged in 1970 to form Synthélabo. Synthélabo later merged with Sanofi in 1999.
Sanofi Competitors
Sanofi competes with major pharmaceutical companies across immunology, vaccines, and rare diseases. The company faces competition from both established pharmaceutical giants and specialized biotechnology firms similar to Pfizer and Novartis.
| Company | Headquarters | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pfizer | New York, USA | Vaccines, oncology, rare diseases |
| Novartis | Basel, Switzerland | Oncology, immunology, neuroscience |
| Johnson & Johnson | New Brunswick, USA | Pharmaceuticals, medical devices |
| Roche | Basel, Switzerland | Oncology, diagnostics, immunology |
| AstraZeneca | Cambridge, UK | Oncology, cardiovascular, respiratory |
| Merck & Co. | Rahway, USA | Oncology, vaccines, immunology |
| AbbVie | North Chicago, USA | Immunology, oncology, neuroscience |
| Eli Lilly | Indianapolis, USA | Diabetes, oncology, immunology |
| GSK | London, UK | Vaccines, respiratory, HIV |
| Viatris | Canonsburg, USA | Generic medicines, biosimilars |
Sanofi Acquisitions
Sanofi has grown through strategic acquisitions spanning biotechnology, vaccines, and consumer healthcare. The company has spent over $40 billion on acquisitions since 2008 to strengthen its therapeutic capabilities and expand market reach.
The 2011 Genzyme acquisition for $20.1 billion transformed Sanofi’s rare disease portfolio. Genzyme, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, brought treatments for orphan diseases including Gaucher disease and Fabry disease. The deal faced initial resistance from Genzyme’s board, requiring Sanofi to increase its offer from $18.5 billion.
In 2010, Sanofi acquired Chattem for $1.9 billion, adding consumer brands including Gold Bond, IcyHot, and Selsun Blue. The same year brought acquisitions of Nepentes Pharma for $130 million and BMP Sunstone Corporation for $520 million.
The 2007 Regeneron partnership proved transformative. Sanofi invested $100 million annually to access Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody platform. This collaboration produced Dupixent, now generating over €14 billion in annual sales across eight approved indications including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and COPD.
In 2016, Sanofi swapped its Merial animal health division (valued at €11.4 billion) for Boehringer Ingelheim’s consumer health division (€6.7 billion) plus €4.7 billion in cash. This deal strengthened Sanofi’s consumer healthcare position while exiting animal health.
Recent acquisitions include Synthorx in 2019 for $2.5 billion, Principia Biopharma in 2020 for $3.68 billion, Kymab in 2021 for $1.5 billion, and Inhibrx in 2024 for up to $2.2 billion. In 2025, Sanofi acquired Vigil Neuroscience for $470 million to expand its early-stage neurology pipeline.
Sanofi Market Cap
Sanofi maintains a market capitalization of approximately $122 billion as of November 2025. The company ranks among the top pharmaceutical companies globally by market value and trades on both Euronext Paris and the New York Stock Exchange.
Sanofi Revenue
Sanofi generated €44.29 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2024. Dupixent contributed over €14 billion, while vaccines including Beyfortus added €8.3 billion. The company has maintained revenue growth through its immunology franchise.
FAQs
Who founded Sanofi?
Jean-René Sautier established Sanofi in 1973 as a pharmaceutical subsidiary of French oil company Elf Aquitaine. The modern company formed through mergers with Synthélabo in 1999 and Aventis in 2004.
What does Sanofi produce?
Sanofi produces prescription medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. Key products include Dupixent for inflammatory diseases, Lantus for diabetes, and vaccines through Sanofi Pasteur.
Where is Sanofi headquarters located?
Sanofi is headquartered in Paris, France. The company operates in over 100 countries with manufacturing facilities and research centers across Europe, North America, and Asia.
How many employees work at Sanofi?
Sanofi employs approximately 82,878 people worldwide. About half of the workforce operates in Europe, with significant operations in the United States and emerging markets.
What is Sanofi revenue?
Sanofi generated €44.29 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2024. Dupixent sales exceeded €14 billion, representing the company’s largest revenue contributor alongside vaccines.