Friday Five: Sanofi and Roche Face Headwinds Amid US Pricing Pressures and 2026 Drug Pipeline Shifts

Sanofi's Q4 2025 vaccine sales declined 2.5% due to US policy shifts under RFK Jr. and Trump administration reducing CDC vaccine recommendations from 17 to 11, leading to immunization hesitancy; expects slightly negative growth in 2026 despite flu vaccine strength2.

Roche's CT-388 GLP-1/GIP agonist achieved 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 48 weeks in Phase II, advancing to Phase III this quarter and combo with Zealand's petrelintide; positions as competitor to Lilly's Zepbound3.

Sanofi maintains vaccine leadership via acquisitions like Vice Bio and Dynavax, committing to innovation despite challenges2.

Roche anticipates a busy 2026 with 10 new molecules in late-stage testing and potential Vabysmo launch, though it undershot targets and Tecentriq failed early lung cancer study4.

US pricing pressures mount with CMS selecting 15 high-cost drugs for negotiation, impacting Roche and others5.

Sources:

2. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/sanofi-vaccine-sales-fourth-quarter-2025-earnings/810829/

3. https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/roches-22-weight-loss-benefit-seals-glp-1s-phase-iii-plans-boosts-zealand-combo

4. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/roche-eyes-busy-2026-vabysmo-undershoots-targets-tecentriq-fails-early-lung-cancer-study

5. https://www.mmm-online.com/news/rx-rundown-roche-cms-boehringer-ingelheim-and-more/