Sanofi’s Doliprane on the verge of becoming American with the acquisition of Opella by CD&R

HEALTH – The little yellow box is about to become American. The French pharmaceutical group Sanofi confirmed, this Friday, October 11, that it was in exclusive negotiations with the American fund CD & R to sell it a majority stake in Opella, an entity which markets the very popular paracetamol brand Doliprane.

Sanofi announces in a press release “having entered into negotiations with CD&R for the potential sale of a 50% controlling interest in Opella, its consumer health business”. This subsidiary, present in 100 countries, has around a hundred brands sold without a prescription, including Doliprane, Dulcolax, Lysopaïne, and Maalox.

The Minister of Industry asks for commitments from Sanofi

“If the discussions were to result positively, any agreement would be concluded after consultation with the staff representative bodies”adds the group that will communicate “in due time, when a decision has been made” on this large-scale operation.

According to the economic newspaper The Echoesthe potential American buyer offered more than 15 billion euros to get its hands on Sanofi’s consumer health business.

The separation project was announced almost a year ago to allow Sanofi to accelerate innovation and position itself as a champion of immunology and for Opella to concentrate on its main activity, considered closer to ‘a logic of consumption that of the pharmacy.

Since then, however, this split has raised questions regarding the future of Doliprane with fears of relocation of its production.

Vigilance is required at the executive level because the supply of paracetamol experienced periods of tension during the winter of 2022-2023. The French Minister in charge of Industry, Marc Ferracci, thus requested commitments from Sanofi and the future buyer aimed at guaranteeing the “maintaining the headquarters and decision-making centers on the national territory” et “Opella’s French industrial footprint”.

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