The investment is aimed at strengthening Sanofi’s capability to advance the research and production of new advanced vaccines
Sanofi former head office, 174 avenue de France, Paris 13th arrondissement. (Credit: Tangopaso/Wikipedia.)
Sanofi has unveiled its plans to make investments in France to enhance its vaccines research and production capacities in the country and contribute to face future pandemic risks.
Under its corporate strategy, Sanofi intends to invest €610m to build a new manufacturing site and research centre in France, both dedicated to vaccines.
Sanofi chief executive officer Paul Hudson said: “Sanofi’s heart beats in France. We have a long history and exceptional teams working throughout the country, embodying our strong values.
“By investing in a new industrial site and a R&D center, Sanofi positions France at the core of its strategy, aiming to make France a world-class centre of excellence in vaccine research and production.
“Sanofi is a major healthcare player in France, in Europe, and worldwide. It is our responsibility to focus our resources and expertise against the current pandemic, but also to invest in preparing for future ones.
“We welcome the ongoing collaboration and commitment of the French authorities who we have been working alongside with the last several months to achieve this.”
Sanofi to build EVF for vaccine production and expand Pasteur facility for vaccine research
The company is planning to construct a new vaccine production facility, dubbed Evolutive Vaccine Facility (EVF) in Neuville sur Saône, France. The new industrial site is planned to leverage advanced vaccine production technologies.
The EVF project would represent around €490m investment for over five years and is expected to create 200 new jobs.
Unlike current industrial sites, EVF is an advanced factory designed around a central unit housing and various digital production modules to produce three to four vaccines simultaneously. The modularity allows for prioritisation of the production of a specific vaccine in a timely manner.
Sanofi would also invest €120m to create a new R&D centre in France at the Sanofi Pasteur site in Marcy-l’Etoile to develop future vaccines. The advanced digital facility features specialised laboratories for the development of vaccines against emerging diseases and pandemic risks.
The company said that its new Pasteur facility will become a world reference for pre-clinical research and pharmaceutical and clinical development.
Sanofi said that it is ready to cooperate with France and the European Union (EU) on other projects which will provide the EU with extra vaccine or monoclonal antibody production capabilities.