Sanofi Carves Out 20 Established Drugs and 3 Global Plants to Cheplapharm for 26.4% Equity Stake

Sanofi has entered into an agreement with Germany-based Cheplapharm to carve out a portfolio of 20 established medicines alongside three international manufacturing facilities. In return, the French pharmaceutical major will acquire a 26.4% minority equity interest in Cheplapharm, deepening a strategic relationship between the two drugmakers that first commenced in 2014.

The transaction allows Sanofi to streamline operations by offloading the complex lifecycle and supply-chain demands of off-patent brands, while redeploying its resources toward high-margin, innovative therapies. Concurrently, Cheplapharm expands its core commercial model of managing mature, originator-brand portfolios with added in-house manufacturing capabilities.

Portfolio Scope and Flagship Assets

The carve-out encompasses 20 mature pharmaceutical brands across multiple therapeutic areas. The central asset of the agreement is Lovenox/Clexane (enoxaparin sodium), an essential low-molecular-weight anticoagulant used globally for the prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Sanofi will retain all commercial and marketing rights for Lovenox within the United States market, excluding it from this transfer.

Manufacturing Footprint and Workforce Safeguards

Cheplapharm will take ownership of three Sanofi manufacturing sites representing approximately 565 specialized personnel:

Csanyikvölgy, Hungary: Around 400 employees
Jurong, Singapore: Around 100 employees
Ploërmel, France: Around 65 employees

Both companies confirmed that all site employees will transition under their existing employment contracts and collective bargaining frameworks, ensuring standard labor conditions remain uninterrupted. Sanofi and Cheplapharm plan to operate under joint quality and supply continuity protocols during the operational handover to avoid market disruptions for critical medicines like enoxaparin.

Transaction Timeline and Financial Outlook

Q1 2027: Initial commercial transition of the pharmaceutical product portfolio begins.
Q3 2027: Full operational transfer of the three manufacturing plants and completion of the equity transaction, pending antitrust reviews, social consultations with employee representatives, and local regulatory authorizations.

Sanofi stated that the proposed agreement will have no bearing on its established 2026 financial guidance. Comprehensive valuation metrics and balance-sheet figures will be disclosed as closing procedures advance.