Sanofi on Feb. 7 reported its consumer product sales grew 2.5% on CER in the fourth quarter to €1.2bn ($1.5bn) as it completed a year of integrating Boehringer Ingelheim GMBH's OTC drug and nutritional products business acquired in a deal that closed on the first day of the year. (Also see "Sanofi Adds Consumer Brands, Grows Footprint With Boehringer Ingelheim Deal" - Pink Sheet, 28 June, 2016.) The Paris-based firm said that of the last day of 2017, its consumer health business is a distinct operating segment.

In the US, sales for quarter were up 3.8% to $474m primarily on an 8.1% jump in Allegra Allergy (fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine formulations) OTC line sales to $104m as well as $8.6m in sales of Xyzal Allergy 24HR and Children's Xyzal Allergy (levocetirizine), an OTC switch launched in February.

US fourth-quarter sales growth was slowed by a 16.4% dip in the digestive category, particularly the Zantac (ranitidine) line acquired in the BI deal. Sanofi's full-year US consumer sector sales were up 1.3% to $1.4bn.

Consumer business growth was stronger in Europe, up 5.7% in the October-December period to $474m, driven by Doliprane (acetaminophen) pain relievers and Mucosolvan (ambroxol) cough/cold products, and up 2% for the full-year to $1.7bn.

In Sanofi's emerging markets, fourth-quarter sales were flat, down 0.5% CER, at $490m while full-year results were up 3% to $2bn.

GSK Rides Cold, Flu And Pain OTCs In Q4 While Allergy Carries Sanofi

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