Controversy has erupted over the sale of a French painkiller to an American company
The planned sale of France’s best-selling pharmaceutical to US investors has caused a headache for the government after an outcry from politicians on all sides. Even President Emmanuel Macron has joined the discussion about the perceived “loss of sovereignty” if the painkiller Doliprane falls into American hands.
Doliprane is the brand under which healthcare giant Sanofi sells paracetamol, a non-opioid drug to relieve mild to moderate pain, and fever. In French pharmacies, colorful boxes often line the walls of shelves, and Doliprane comes in many doses – from 100 mg for newborns to 1,000 mg for adults – and in tablet, capsule, suppository and liquid forms. It is so widely available that the French call any paracetamol product Doliprane, even if it is made by a different manufacturer.
Sanofi, the largest health company in France and among the top 12 in the world, found out in the last few days how attached the French are to medicine. The political and union response came hard and fast after the company announced last week that it was in talks with New York private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) to sell a controlling stake of 50% in its subsidiary Opella, which. manufactures Doliprane and other consumer health products.
The proposed move, it said, would be part of Sanofi’s strategy to focus less on generic drugs than on new drugs and vaccines, including polio, influenza and meningitis.
‘Protect France’
“This is another sign of the loss of our sovereignty,” said Fabien Roussel, leader of France’s Communist party, calling the proposed sale “disgraceful.”
Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National (RN) party, said that “France’s small sale continues.”
Green party leader Marine Tondelier says the government “didn’t learn anything” from the Covid epidemic when France suffered a bottling of medicines widely blamed for outsourcing production.
An adhoc group of centrist lawmakers – including Macron’s party – said the sale represented “a very worrying risk for our national security.”
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Boris Vallaud, the leader of the parliament for the Socialists, reminded the government of 2022 when the sharp increase in the demand for paracetamol causes a certain shortage of drugs in France. “A few months ago, paracetamol was nowhere to be found,” he said. “And now they want to leave it entirely?”
In a message to Finance Minister Antoine Armand – only in office since last month – lawmakers say the proposed sale is against “the re-establishment of French sovereignty in the health sector.” The government had a legal option, they said, to set standards or ban the sale on the grounds that it affected a “submissive” industry.
Save jobs in France
Macron joined the fray on Monday, October 14, saying that “the government has the necessary resources to “protect France” from unwanted “financial wealth”. The American investment fund provides more than millions of euros 15 thousand for Opella, respectively Les Echos business every day.
Facing protests, Armand on Friday told Sanofi and the potential buyer that Opella’s “headquarters and decision-making centers” must remain in France.
On Monday, Industry Minister Marc Ferracci said that the current proposal must also stay, “to protect jobs and maintain the supply of French people.” The same is true of research and development services, he said.
Speaking to France 3 broadcaster, Ferracci said the government would ask for a way to control foreign investment if buyers fail to meet the requirements. But he added: “I truly believe that commitment will be made.”
Sanofi told AFP that CD&R is a solid partner that brings the deal “adequate financial guarantees to maintain and develop Opella’s activities in France and the world.”
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