the government thinks it can keep production sites in France

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The government is convinced of obtaining commitments to maintain in France the industrial sites of the consumer products subsidiary of Sanofi, which produces Doliprane, and which the French group wants to sell to an American investment fund but does not refrain from not block the transaction. The announcement of the passage of the best-selling drug in France under the American flag raised eyebrows among politicians of all stripes, some of whom urged the government to block this operation, in the name of French health sovereignty.

«My commitment is that Doliprane continues to be produced in France, by employees in France.», et «we will have to ask for extremely strong guarantees», declared the Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand on Sunday on BFMTV. Asked about a possibility of blocking the transferhe replied “we will ask for extremely strong guarantees likely to reassure both employees and the French in the medium term (…) and if this is not the case, nothing will seem forbidden to me at first glance».

Maintain security of supply of Doliprane

A little earlier, the Minister Delegate for Industry, Marc Ferracci had declared on France 3 “we will discuss these commitments within the framework of the procedure that has been introduced in recent years, which is called the foreign investment control procedure» (which possibly makes it possible to block the takeover by a foreign company). “I very sincerely believe that commitments will be made, which will be very solid, both to maintain jobs and to maintain security of supply for the French.» in medicines, he added.

Bercy announced Sunday evening that the Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand and Mr. Ferracci would go Monday morning to Lisieux (Calvados)where one of these sites is located, which manufactures Doliprane. The ministers are planning discussions on site with trade union organizations and a visit to the factory, according to the ministry press release. Sanofi announced Friday negotiate with the American investment fund CD&R to cede control of its over-the-counter products subsidiary Opellawhich notably produces Doliprane.

Socialists call on government to block sale

This split raises concerns in France regarding the future of Doliprane, manufactured in Lisieux (west) and Compiègne (north) and the risks of relocation. The commitments of Sanofi and the new investor must relate to “maintaining production sites in France» and on «maintaining research and development in France», Underlined the Minister of Industry.

In La Tribune Sundayall the socialist parliamentarians took up their pens to in turn oppose this operation: “The government must refuse the American takeover of Sanofi’s Lisieux factory, and require Sanofi to preserve national control of these activities, which are essential for our sovereignty.», They write in a column.