Sanofi ‘to purchase McNeil PPC business unit’

Sanofi is negotiating a deal with Johnson and Johnson to purchase an element of its consumer health-focused business McNeil PPC.

This is according to a recent posting on the website of the Federal Trade Commission, which suggested that a deal is pending, though none of the companies involved have provided an official statement on the transaction.

US antitrust regulators have already signed off on the deal, which could provide Sanofi with an ideal platform for expanding its presence in the over-the-counter medicines market, as McNeil's portfolio includes major brands such as Tylenol, Listerine and Band-Aids.

However, any agreement will not include selling the McNeil Consumer Healthcare facility in Fort Washington, company spokeswoman Barbara Montresor told Philly.com.

Sanofi has made a number of strategic acquisitions in 2012, while proceeding with integration processes following its major takeover of Genzyme last year.

Earlier this month, it purchased the animal health division of Dosch Pharmaceuticals in India, while it has also agreed deals for Genfar, Newport Laboratories and Pluromed in the last 12 months.