*

Sanofi has 12 potential blockbuster assets in immunology

and

vaccines

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Sanofi has undisclosed obesity pipeline assets, making

third-party investments

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Sanofi still considering spinoff, IPO or sale of Opella

consumer

healthcare unit

By Michael Erman

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Sanofi's chief

executive, Paul Hudson, said in an interview on Monday that the

company is poised for strong growth from a variety of new drugs

and is not facing imminent, costly patent expirations of

top-selling products as are some rivals.

"We've spent five years as a team getting Sanofi to the

start line of being a respected R&D machine, and I think the

markets are starting to understand it," said Hudson, who became

CEO in September 2019.

Hudson, who is in New York for the United Nations General

Assembly, cited recent data for multiple sclerosis drug

tolebrutinib, the company's preventive respiratory syncytial

virus (RSV) antibody Beyfortus and an expected approval of

blockbuster drug Dupixent to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease, a potentially deadly lung condition.

Sanofi shares are up around 15% this year. Hudson has been

working since last October to build confidence in the stock when

he unexpectedly abandoned 2025 margin targets to instead boost

spending on drug development.

He said the company has a pipeline of 12 potential

blockbuster assets in immunology and vaccines, and no major

patent expirations before the end of the decade.

"Finally we've reached a point where our pipeline is

balanced towards winning, not losing," he said.

The company has not been a player in the lucrative obesity

drug market. Its main competitors in the insulin market, Novo

Nordisk and Eli Lilly ( LLY ), in recent years

launched blockbuster weight-loss drugs that have sent their

market values soaring.

Hudson said Sanofi does not want to create a "me too"

version of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro.

"However, let's say it becomes a $100 billion market - it's

a bit naive for us to think we wouldn't want to participate," he

said. "So we have some programs internally that are not

disclosed, and we're making some investments in third parties

that have a shot."

Sanofi is also in the process of splitting off its Opella

consumer healthcare unit, but has not yet decided which method

it will use in that separation. Hudson said he is encouraged by

the level of interest in the business, and that Sanofi is

interested in keeping a stake in Opella after the separation is

done.

Sanofi has said it is considering a spinoff, initial public

offering or sale of the unit. Hudson said more value can be

achieved via an independent company run by executives with

greater focus on the consumer healthcare sector.

"The impression we're getting is it's a good business, and

it has a lot of potential ... I would like us to participate in

that upside. With the right sort of environment around it, it

can flourish. Why would we not stay involved and take that

benefit?"