Sanofi highlights successful performance during 2014

Sanofi has announced its financial results for the 2014 business year, during which it achieved an annual group sales total of 33.77 billion euros (25.19 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year increase of 4.9 percent, with growth platform sales expanding by 10.7 percent and pharmaceutical revenues rising 4.4 percent thanks to the performance of the diabetes and Genzyme businesses.

During the year, the company was able to achieve key regulatory milestones for drugs such as Praluent, Lemtrada, Cerdelga and Afrezza, while advancing the development of newer therapies such as revusiran and dupilumab.

In 2015, Sanofi expects its earnings per share performance to stable or slightly improved compared to its 2014 results.

Serge Weinberg, Sanofi's chairman and chief executive officer, said: "The group delivered strong financial results and we made significant progress in bringing new medicines to market. In 2015, our focus is on operational excellence as we launch multiple new medicines and vaccines."

Mr Weinberg continues to serve as chief executive of the company on an interim basis, following the departure of previous leader Christopher Viehbacher shortly after the announcement of the firm's Q3 2014 results last October.