新湖畔网 （随信APP) | 赛诺菲因政治争议后寻求出售止痛药

Doliprane是法国最广泛使用的药物，用于缓解轻至中度疼痛和发烧 - 版权AFP ADEK BERRY

周一，圣诺菲确认计划将其非处方业务控股权出售给美国投资基金，此举缓解了政治争议。

圣诺菲表示，将Opella的控股50%股权出售给CD&R，这将使Doliprane成为法国领先的止痛药品制造商，估值为160亿欧元（174亿美元）。

“圣诺菲和CD&R今天宣布计划合作，支持Opella作为总部位于法国的全球消费保健领军企业的雄心。”此前法国官员在周末批准了该交易。

法国经济部长安东尼·阿曼德周日表示：“我们关于就业、生产和投资的要求将得到尊重。”

拟议的销售在法国成为一项重大政治问题。

人们仍然记得在新冠大流行期间镇痛药物短缺的情况，政府承诺增加国内制药生产。

工会也表达了担忧，认为这将使法国的1700个就业岗位面临风险。

圣诺菲坚称，此次销售将有助于Opella通过引入愿意在更多与消费品市场而非纯粹药品市场中投资的合作伙伴来扩张。

Opella拥有超过11,000名员工，业务遍布100个国家。

圣诺菲表示，它在非处方药品、维生素和补充剂市场上是全球第三大企业。

Doliprane是Opella销售对乙酰氨基酚的品牌，一种非阿片类镇痛药，用于缓解轻至中度疼痛和发烧。

它还拥有抗组胺药品品牌Allegra和泻药Dulcolax。

“CD&R和圣诺菲将共同支持Opella的增长战略，使其成为一家全球快速发展的消费者保健公司。”圣诺菲将继续专注于创新治疗和疫苗。

法国公共投资银行预计将在圣诺菲与CD&R的独家销售谈判结束时收购Opella 2%的股份。

预计该交易将至少要等到明年第二季度才能完成。

CD&R的欧洲医疗业务负责人埃里克·鲁兹表示，期待支持法国业务，包括Opella的关键制造基地和先进研发能力，并进一步发展全球平台，更好地为员工、消费者和患者提供服务。

Doliprane is France's most widely used medicine to ease mild to moderate pain and fever - Copyright AFP ADEK BERRY

Sanofi confirmed on Monday plans to sell a controlling stake in its over-the-counter unit to a US investment fund, after employment and investment guarantees relieved political controversy.

The sale of a controlling 50-percent stake in Opella to CD&R values the maker of France's leading painkiller, Doliprane, at 16 billion euros ($17.4 billion), Sanofi said.

"Sanofi and CD&R announce today a plan to join forces to fuel Opella's ambitions as a French-headquartered, global consumer healthcare champion," it said after French officials approved the deal over the weekend.

French Economy Minister Antoine Armand said on Sunday: "Our demands on employment, production and investment will be respected."

The proposed sale had turned into a major political issue in France.

Memories are still fresh of shortages of the painkiller during the Covid pandemic and government pledges to boost domestic pharmaceutical production.

Trade unions had also expressed concern it would put 1,700 jobs in France at risk.

For its part, Sanofi insisted the sale would help Opella expand by bringing in a partner willing to invest in a market that has more in common with the consumer goods market than pure pharmaceutical drugs.

Opella employs over 11,000 workers and operates in 100 countries.

Sanofi said it is the third-largest business worldwide in the market for over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements.

Doliprane is the brand under which Opella sells paracetamol, a non-opioid analgesic to ease mild to moderate pain and fever.

It also owns the antihistamine brand Allegra and the laxative Dulcolax.

"Together, CD&R and Sanofi will support Opella's growth strategy as a pure-play, global and fast-moving consumer healthcare company," said Sanofi, which will focus on innovative treatments and vaccines going forward.

French public investment bank Bpifrance is expected to take a two-percent stake in Opella at the end of the exclusive sale talks between Sanofi and CD&R.

The deal is not expected to go through before the second quarter of next year.

The head of CD&R's European healthcare activities, Eric Rouzier, said it looks "forward to supporting both its French operations, including Opella's critical manufacturing footprint and advanced R&D capabilities, and further developing its global platform to better serve employees, consumers and patients".