I suppose this might have gone under Health but is so outrageous as to beggar belief.
Apparently the BRITISH Head of FRENCH pharmaceutical company Sanofihas declared that in any development/discovery of a Corvid 19 vaccine - the first orders will go to the USA!
Quote ‘as they have invested most in it’ which seems inaccurate at least or an outright lie at worse, as the French Government correctly have pointed out that a) there should be no such priority in any case, and b) that Sanofi have been the recipient of ‘tens of millions of euros’ in support for research by the French Government .
Just at a time when there are other moves to ensure any vaccine should be available for everyone - at no charge.
I don’t know where to aim my disgust at this - to Sanofi, to the Head of the Company or yet again the Americans buying priority over everyone else?
I think the uproar after the CEO’s statement has lead to a change and apparently every country will get the vaccine at the same time when it’s available.
Maybe a change of CEO might be a good first move? His mindset seems troubling to me.
Apart from the big difference in investment, and it is huge, the USA can authorise sales within 30 days and the EU within 90 days which is anotehr reason for this (according to TF1/LCI)
Actually, to sell a medical device on the US market, it can take between 15 and 100 days for pre-market submission. The whole process can take upto 8 months depending under which class the manufacturer classifies it. There are various forms that cna be used 510K submission, premarket approval or self registry.
There are many factors involved. The MHRA are not the fastest on the block as the episode with the PPE has shown. Of course kin the USA, the government can authorise the FDA to get a move on and allow an exemption whilst the paperwork is being processed, which they more than likely will do. This does not mean that this device can be marketed on the EU markets especially at this time as the EU is currently redefining its regulations and the MD world is in turmoil to meet the deadline.
Of course, his first duty is to his shareholders, never mind the rest of the world whose lives are on hold.
And his own bank balance.
Sheer Greed??
From FR24: "Research on Sanofi’s Covid-19 vaccine is partially funded by the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (Barda), but in recent years, Sanofi has received tens of millions of euros in tax credits from the French government to help him in his research.
*The words of Mr. Hudson in an interview with Bloomberg caused an uproar among right and left politicians in France. Socialists estimated that Sanofi had received some 150 million euros (£ 133 million; $ 162 million) in research tax credits and millions more in other tax credits."
Where are the figures for the investment, Andrew? The French Government are talking in terms of ‘Tens of Millions of Euros’ over time, but BIG investment from the USA (‘Bigly’ Investment? - whatever that means. Sorry but the British CEO of a French Company sounds seriously to me like the standard British knee-bending to the almighty US Dollar - to the detriment of everyone else on the planet INCLUDING the French who theoretically ‘own’ the Company.
Incidentally I have never read anywhere that the FDA (Federal Drugs Administration) in the USA was the fastest responding agency in that country, and in all honesty I have never in my years in Marketing ever heard of a single new product hitting any sort of market in 30 days.
In 25 years of medical devices neither have I.
Seems incredibly fast to me too ! Just finishing work, will watch 20H TF1 when I get home to see what they’re now saying/trying to justify. This morning it was investment and being ahead of the game in the US and the 30 -v- 90 days thrown in. I’m in the drugs industry but the type you smoke so can’t comment further! 
What on earth makes Sanofi think that they will be the first ones to develop a vaccine?
Yes I noted that as well. Although not a conspiracy theorist in any way and not denying there is a problem, my old Marketing cynicism does keep rearing its head - notably the old saw of the best way to sell a product is to first create the problem, then offer the solution.
Actually there is 226 million dollars here: http://www.news.sanofi.us/2019-12-09-Sanofi-awarded-226-million-by-US-government-to-expand-pandemic-influenza-preparedness
plus another 43.2 million $ here: https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2016/2016-09-26-17-00-00 just for starters
so perhaps it is not entirely unjustified that the USA should be expecting some sort of return on its investment.
I think that you will find that it is actually his legal first duty in his role.
Actually this is not quite correct Jane. In more detail companies who receive government funding are also responsible to what are collectively their ‘Stakeholders’. These also include staff, suppliers and others affected by a Company decision even if they are not actual holders of ‘shares’. invariably Stakeholders vastly outnumber direct Shareholders. One of the reasons Companies employ PR companies.
Sanofi (worldwide) has Revenue of €36.1 BILLION, of which some €9B is produced from the USA (Financial Statement 2019). A Company this size does not need to bend the knee for a ‘mere’ $300 million US.
I note that the donation was to assist in the CONSTRUCTION of new US premises, and nothing whatever to do with Corona Virus. Again this is taken from their own website.
Yes, I know. But taking obscenely large dividends is becoming unacceptable.
I agree and one of the reasons for not applying copyright in any form to producers of drugs, and encouraging the use and production of generic drugs in France (and I presume elsewhere) A good example being Bayer who did indeed develop aspirin, but can only promote their branded form of ‘Aspro’. THey were once a client of mine in Vienna opening up the Hungarian market,a nd it was a highly interesting Marketing progra:me for me.
Well, looks like your problem was solved before it even started as this BBC report dated 14 May indicates:
The French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has rowed back on an apparent promise to prioritise the US market with any potential Covid-19 vaccine.
Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson sparked a row by saying the US government had “the right to the largest pre-order because it’s invested in taking the risk”.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe responded by saying access for all was “non-negotiable”.
Sanofi’s chairman has now vowed equal access for everyone.