Origins
Doliprane, the core of Sanofi's consumer healthcare business (CHC and OTC), originated, according to the pharmaceutical group, in the Bottu laboratories, where it was invented by Parisian pharmacist Henri Bottu and his son-in-law Jacques Dagniolle.[3] Subsequently, Bottu Laboratories passed through the hands of several pharmaceutical companies, including the BSN Group (1985–1987), Rhône-Poulenc (1987–1999), Aventis (1999–2004), and finally Sanofi-Aventis from 2004 onwards, which became Sanofi in 2011.[4]
On December 21, 2009, Sanofi-Aventis acquired the US pharmaceutical group Chattem (now Opella North America) and its 488 employees, based in Tennessee, one of the leaders in the sale of non-prescription and self-medication drugs in the United States, making Sanofi the world's fifth largest manufacturer of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.[5]
Opella (since 2018)
The French company "Sanofi 2018 C", which is to consolidate the consumer health activities of the French pharmaceutical group Sanofi, namely its Sanofi Consumer Healthcare (CHC) and OTC divisions, was created in 2018 and renamed Opella in 2020, while remaining a division of the group.[6]
In July 2023, Sanofi will inaugurate the Lab 157, a new site in Neuilly-sur-Seine, designed to accommodate up to 680 employees from its Consumer Healthcare (CHC) division in nearly 6,680 m2 of office space.[7][8]
On October 27, 2023, French group Sanofi announced its intention to divest its subsidiary Opella in 2024 in order to refocus on the production of innovative vaccines and more profitable patented drugs.[9][10] Sanofi's Consumer Healthcare (CHC) division will then account for 12% of the group's sales in 2024.[11]
On October 20, 2024, Sanofi announced the sale of 50% of its subsidiary Opella, which manufactures and markets Sanofi's over-the-counter medicines, including Doliprane, to the American investment fund CD&R (Clayton, Dubilier & Rice) for €10 billion.[12] The sale has caused a stir among the French public and politicians because it involves a basic medicine that has been used by many French people for several generations.[13]
On May 6, 2025, Julie Van Ongevalle, former head of Sanofi CHC, becomes president of Opella Healthcare Group, while Ségolène de Marsac is appointed head of the French subsidiary.[14]
