Sanofi's expenditure on research and development 2008-2021

In 2021, biopharmaceutical company Sanofi spent approximately 5.7 billion U.S. dollars on research and development. Sanofi’s R&D expenditures have increased with each consecutive year since 2013, but dropped betweem 2019 and 2020.

The French pharmaceutical giant

Sanofi Société Anonyme (or Sanofi S.A.), headquartered in Paris, France, is active in more than one hundred countries worldwide, with a global workforce of around 100 thousand people in 2021. In the same year, the company generated most of its revenue (some 27 billion U.S. dollars) from its pharmaceuticals segment, while over six billion U.S. dollars were earned through the company’s prosperous vaccines segment. Sanofi’s vaccine segment is a global leader in the world of vaccines. In 2021, this business segment generated 2.2 billion U.S. dollars specifically through vaccines for polio, pertussis (whooping cough), and Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b).

Clinical trials

A clinical trial or study is conducted in order to uncover whether a particular compound is efficient and safe to use for the treatment of people. It is a lengthy process that can take several years. Such trials are also necessary to get a vaccine or a drug approved for marketing purposes.