Sanofi and its vaccines global business unit Sanofi Pasteur confirmed the end of their vaccine joint-venture with MSD (known as Merck & Co. Inc., in the United States and Canada), Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD). Sanofi Pasteur and MSD will separately pursue their own vaccine strategies in Europe, integrating their respective European vaccines business into their operations. The change in operations took effect January 1, 2017.

Since its announcement in March 2016, the project has been managed in an open dialogue with the SPMSD employees, unions and relevant external stakeholders, in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations. During the transitional period following the announcement of the ending of the joint-venture, SPMSD and Sanofi and Merck, its shareholders, have been focused on a smooth and orderly transition while achieving their public healthcare goals and upholding their commitments to their employees, customers and business partners.

Each company will be able to define its own vaccines strategy to benefit public health and create value for patients, healthcare professionals, and payers. In November 2015, as part of its strategic roadmap 2020, Sanofi announced that it would reshape its portfolio, namely through sustained leadership in vaccines.

Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs.