Sanofi has received setback during the first quarter ended March 2014 and its net profit declined by 3.2 per cent to €1,547 million from €1,598 million due to depreciation of US dollar, Japanese Yen and other currencies against the Euro. Its net sales also declined by 2.7 per cent to €7,842 million from €8,059 million in the corresponding period of last year. EPS moved down to €1.17 from €1.21 in the last period.

The sales of pharmaceuticals increased by 4.7 per cent to €6,697 million due to higher sales in Genzyme, diabetes and consumer healthcare segments.  The sales of Lantus moved up by 13.5 per cent to €1,448 million and that of Plavix went up by 18.2 per cent to €487 million. The sales of Aprovel/Avapro declined by 22.8 per cent to €179 million. The sales of generics touched to €421 million, a growth of 8 per cent, reflecting the recovery in Brazil. In emerging markets, sales of generics increased by 23.6 per cent to €244 million.

The sales of Group's growth platforms improved by 7.9 per cent to €5,776 million. The sales of diabetes segment moved up 13.2 per cent to €1,662 million and that of consumer healthcare segment increased by 18.6 per cent to €885 million. However, sales of vaccines declined by 4.2 per cent to €628 million on account of a phasing effect in Pentaxim deliveries in emerging market and strong sales of Imovax in Japan and Menactra in the previous year period. .

Christopher A Viehbacher, CEO, commented  “The Group’s financial performance in the first-quarter continued the growth trajectory that emerged at the end of 2013. Our Business EPS grew 5.8 per cent at CER which is in line with our full-year financial guidance. Importantly, our pipeline showed steady progress. We presented study results for alirocumab, dupilumab, initiated the LixiLan phase III programme and announced plans to resubmit the sBLA for Lemtrada . In addition, the first dengue vaccine phase III study met its primary endpoint. During the next three quarters of 2014, we expect important development milestones for multiple high potential pipeline projects including Toujeo (U300), the dengue vaccine, alirocumab, cerdelga and dupilumab.”

Its sales in US increased by 7.5 per cent to €2,415 million, but that in Western Europe declined by 0.3 per cent to €1,998 million. Emerging markets sales clocked a growth of 5.5 per cent to €2,590 million.