July 31 (Reuters) - France's Sanofi said on

Thursday that it expects annual sales to grow by high

single-digit percentage, helped by strong demand for its

anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent, as well as vaccines and newer

treatments.

It had previously said it expects annual sales to grow by

mid-to-high single-digit percentage at constant currency rates.

The drugmaker also confirmed that it expects earnings to

grow at a low double-digit percentage this year.

Sanofi has significantly amped up its R&D expenditure in

recent years, a move that led it to abandon its long-term margin

targets in 2023. This shift underscores its focus to capitalize

on the success of its blockbuster drug Dupixent as it builds its

next wave of growth drivers.

Sales of its asthma drug Dupixent rose 21.1% to 3.83 billion

euros ($4.38 billion), compared to 3.74 billion euros expected

on average by analysts in a company-provided poll.

Quarterly business operating income, excluding one-off

items, rose by 3.3% to 2.46 billion euros, below the average

analyst estimate of 2.57 billion euros in a poll posted on the

company's website.

($1 = 0.8740 euros)

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank

Dhaniwala)