PARIS — Sanofi raised its guidance for 2026 on Friday after third-quarter sales grew 14.3% at constant exchange rates, powered by Dupixent, which passed 5 billion euros in quarterly sales for the second time, the company said in its earnings release.
Net sales were 14.444 billion euros in the quarter, up 16.2% as reported. Business earnings per share came to 3.55 euros, up 19.6% at constant rates, and business operating income rose 22.2% to 5.43 billion euros, according to the release.
Dupixent sales climbed 34.8% to 5.7 billion euros. Newer medicines added to the growth: sales from pharmaceutical launches rose 31.4% to 1.4 billion euros, driven by ALTUVIIIO, Ayvakit and Rezurock, the company said.
“Sanofi achieved another strong quarter with double-digit sales growth of 14.3%, mainly driven by our new medicines and Dupixent,” Chief Executive Belén Garijo said. “Business EPS increased by 19.6%, driven by cost discipline.”
The company now expects sales to grow by a low-teens percentage this year at constant exchange rates, with business earnings per share up by a mid-teens percentage. Dow Jones Newswires reported it was the second time this year Sanofi had lifted its outlook.
Vaccine sales went the other way, falling 6.6% to 3.2 billion euros. Sanofi tied the drop to the anticipated phasing in respiratory prevention. Research and development spending held broadly steady at 1.8 billion euros, while selling and general expenses eased 0.9% to 2.3 billion euros.
The quarter also brought two regulatory approvals, in rare diseases and vaccines, one regulatory submission acceptance and two regulatory designations, priority review and PRIME, the release said.
Net income under international reporting standards was 3.021 billion euros, up 7.8% from a year earlier. Free cash flow rose 9.2% to 3.269 billion euros.
Sanofi said it expanded its long-standing alliance with Regeneron during the quarter, opening further opportunities in immunology. It also moved to simplify its portfolio through a partnership with Cheplapharm covering a number of legacy medicines.
Dupixent accounted for nearly 40% of Sanofi’s total sales in the quarter, Dow Jones Newswires reported, which is why the drug’s loss of patent protection in the early 2030s hangs over the company’s plans. Garijo said Sanofi had already begun taking action to improve research productivity and to protect earnings through that loss of exclusivity.
“Business development and M&A will be critical to complement this transformation.”
On a call with reporters, Chief Financial Officer François-Xavier Roger said the company was confident of delivering growth through 2030 and beyond and was still working to replenish its pipeline, Dow Jones Newswires reported.
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