Sanofi Bets on Vaccines as It Defends Its Brand and Rebuilds Its Pipeline
Jan/02/2026
As it navigates regulatory setbacks and intensifying competition, Sanofi is simultaneously shoring up its intellectual property and remaking its product portfolio. On December 31, the French drugmaker—formed in 2004 from the merger of Sanofi-Synthélabo and Aventis—filed a U.S. trademark opposition against Adapet Medical over the mark “ADAPET,” arguing it risks confusion with Sanofi’s long-standing “ADACEL” vaccine brand. The legal move comes amid a broader strategic reset: after reporting €41 billion in 2024 revenues, down from recent peaks, Sanofi has leaned heavily on dealmaking to offset pipeline disappointments, including the FDA’s rejection of its multiple-sclerosis candidate tolebrutinib. Flush with cash from selling a controlling stake in its Opella consumer-health unit, the company has embarked on an acquisition spree, capped by a $2.2 billion agreement to buy Dynavax Technologies, adding a U.S.-approved hepatitis B vaccine and several late-stage candidates. With more than a third of sales still tied to blockbuster Dupixent, Sanofi’s twin focus on brand protection and vaccine expansion underscores a determination to defend its franchise while engineering a post-Dupixent future.
