1. In Vivo
  2. >>Archive

Sanofi Builds US-based Consumer Powerhouse in Preparation for Allegra OTC Switch

Sanofi-Aventis' $1.8 billion bid for over-the-counter and personal care product firm Chattem Inc. offers the French firm a coveted toehold in the sizeable US consumer health care market while also opening potential opportunities in emerging markets. As such, the deal is in line with the French pharma's emphasis on diversification, helping the company hedge the development risks associated with its branded pharmaceuticals.

Sanofi' $1.8 billion bid for over-the-counter and personal care product firm Chattem Inc. offers the French firm a coveted toehold in the sizeable US consumer health care market while also opening potential opportunities in emerging markets. [See Deal] As such, the deal is in line with the French pharma's emphasis on diversification, helping the company hedge the development risks associated with its branded pharmaceuticals. Like Sanofi's previous OTC purchases, which also include the Brazilian player Medley Pharmaceuticals[See Deal], the Chattem buy is structured as a bolt-on acquisition, designed to add capability in a low margin sector that is also far less dependent on the changing political winds associated with US health care reform.

It's a strategy almost every Big Pharma is employing—the notable exception being Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., which in 2009 spun...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Archive

Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Our Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Early Development Deals: Ipsen's Strategy For Biomarker-Driven Success

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Mary Jane Hinrichs, Ipsen’s head of early development, talks to In Vivo about getting ahead of the competition by securing deals for candidates before they enter Phase I trials.   

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in the coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access In Vivo, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

Sponsored by:

Prioritizing Safety in CAR-T Therapy: Patient Monitoring with Cerba Research’s Testing Portfolio

The cell and gene therapy (CGT) clinical trial landscape in general and CAR-T cell clinical trials in particular are a special focus for the FDA, EMA, and other regulatory agencies. The whole industry is thus aware of the recent FDA safety investigation and requirements for labeling CAR therapy products.

More from In Vivo

Execs On The Move: October 2025

 
• By In Vivo Team

An interactive look at recent executive-level company changes and promotions in the biopharma, medical device and diagnostics industries.

A $30m Milestone And Leadership Handoff Signal New Chapter For Recursion

 
• By David Wild

Recursion recently announced the completion of a $30m microglia map and named Najat Khan as CEO, replacing co-founder Chris Gibson.

How Rare Disease Advocates Are Reshaping Gene Therapy Development

 
• By David Wild

Patient advocacy organizations are transforming gene therapy development by funding research, de-risking programs and driving ultra-rare disease treatments from concept to clinic at unprecedented speed.