Sanofi replaces CEO Paul Hudson with outgoing Merck KGaA head

Leadership Change - Sanofi has announced the appointment of Belén Garijo as the new CEO, succeeding Paul Hudson, whose contract will not be renewed [1] - Garijo, currently the CEO of Merck KGaA, will assume her new role on April 29, 2026, after a five-year tenure at Merck KGaA [2] Financial Performance - Sanofi's vaccine revenue dropped by 5% in 2025, generating €7.9 billion compared to €8.3 billion in 2024, while overall net sales grew by 9.9% at constant exchange rates to reach €43.6 billion ($51.7 billion) [4] - The company is preparing for the loss of patent protection for Dupixent, which generated €14.7 billion last year [5] Challenges and Pipeline Issues - Sanofi is facing challenges in the US vaccine sector due to policy changes under the Trump administration, impacting immunization recommendations and new candidate approvals [3] - Recent pipeline disappointments include FDA rejections and failures in multiple sclerosis treatments, as well as mixed results for COPD candidates [6] Strategic Focus - Garijo's primary focus will be on enhancing the productivity, governance, and innovation capacity of Sanofi's R&D [7]