COVID-19

Sanofi to donate 100 million doses of hydroxychloroquine across 50 countries

COVID-19:  Sanofi to donate 100 million doses of hydroxychloroquine across 50 countries 

• Sanofi to provide Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) wherever possible, while securing appropriate supply levels for current approved indications;
• The company already increased its production capacity by 50% and is on track to further increase production over the coming months;
• Ongoing global clinical studies are assessing the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19;
• If the ongoing clinical studies demonstrate its safety and efficacy in COVID-19 patients, Sanofi commits to donating the medicine to governments worldwide;
• Sanofi CEO calls for greater international cooperation among the entire hydroxychloroquine chain, if proven safe and effective in COVID-19.

Paris – April 10, 2020 – As of today, Sanofi has committed to donating 100 million doses of hydroxychloroquine to 50 countries around the world, and has begun to progressively deliver the medicine to authorities that have requested it.

Hydroxychloroquine donation

In this global health emergency, Sanofi stands ready to assist as many countries as possible, starting with countries where its medicine is registered for current approved indications as well as countries where there are no hydroxychloroquine suppliers or countries with underserved populations.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Sanofi has received a growing number of requests from local governments around the world. The company is regularly evaluating its increasing supply capacity and re-assessing how best to help those countries in the most ethical way. Sanofi’s priority is to ensure supply continuity for patients treated under the current approved indications of the medicine, notably including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, while working hard to supply governments wishing to increase stocks in the hope that it may be an effective treatment of COVID-19.

Sanofi will continue to donate the medicine to governments and hospital institutions if ongoing clinical studies demonstrate its efficacy and safety in COVID-19 patients.

Production capacity ramp up

Sanofi has already doubled its incremental production capacity (on top of the usual production for current indications) across its eight hydroxychloroquine manufacturing sites worldwide and is on track to quadruple it by the summer.

Call for greater international cooperation

Sanofi is calling for coordination among the entire hydroxychloroquine chain worldwide to ensure the continued supply of the medicine if proven to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment in COVID-19 patients.