Sanofi detailed this week (March 7, 2022) an investment plan of EUR 935 ($1 billion) from 2022 to 2026 that is designed to provide a complete value chain in mRNA technology, from R&D to production. The investment is part of larger EUR 2-billion ($2.1-billion) plan to accelerate Sanofi’s mRNA strategy, which the company announced last June (June 2021).

Last year (June 2021), Sanofi launched a dedicated mRNA Center of Excellence in Lyon, France, with a planned annual commitment of approximately EUR 400 million ($475 million) to develop and deliver mRNA vaccines.

Sanofi says its investment plan covers the entire value chain of mRNA technology platforms and includes an acceleration of R&D at its Marcy l’Etoile Center of Excellence in France, which involves production of clinical batches, development of the formulation of lipid nanoparticles, and developing production capacities and other components used in the production of future vaccines.

This investment plan is a continuation of other investments already announced by Sanofi. In December 2019, the company announced plans to invest EUR 490 million ($550 million) over a five-year period in vaccine production in France through the creation of what it calls an “Evolutive Vaccine Facility” (EVF) in Neuville sur Saône, France. The EVF is designed around a central unit housing several fully digital production modules to produce three to four vaccines simultaneously. The modularity allows for manufacturing multiple vaccine and biologics, including enzymes and monoclonal antibodies.

To further accelerate the deployment of mRNA technology in the development of vaccines and therapeutic agents, in 2021, Sanofi acquired Translate Bio, a clinical-stage mRNA therapeutics and vaccines company, for $3.2 billion. Through this acquisition, Sanofi aims to develop six mRNA vaccine candidates by 2025.

Source: Sanofi