Sanofi weighs selective “moonshot” deals as it plans for the Dupixent patent cliff

Sanofi is weighing acquisitions of both late-stage or already-marketed medicines and selected early-stage projects as it rebuilds its pipeline ahead of expected Dupixent competition in the early 2030s.

CFO François-Xavier Roger said the company may also explore “white spaces” or “moonshots” addressing major unmet medical needs, but signaled that these would be selective bets—not necessarily large, immediate deals.

The company’s main areas of focus remain immunology, rare diseases and vaccines. Sanofi says it will use its cash flow and balance sheet for external growth, while also trying to improve internal R&D productivity.

Dupixent’s U.S. patent is expected to expire in 2031. The drug has become a major source of Sanofi revenue, making the search for future growth drivers a strategic priority.

Sanofi recently expanded its collaboration with Regeneron to develop four next-generation immunology antibody candidates, committing $1 billion upfront and up to $7 billion in potential milestone payments. The partnership complements, rather than replaces, Sanofi’s broader search for pipeline assets.