Sanofi buoyed by positive financial results

French pharma major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) has been boosted by a positive end of year financial results statement, showing the firm took in 8.9 billion euros ($10.1 billion) in the final three months of 2018, an increase of 3.5%, with sales growth driven by its specialty care and vaccine units.

Net income for the fourth quarter was 254 million euros, or 20 euro cents per share. For the whole year, Sanofi took in 34.4 billion euros, with net income of 4.3 billion euros, or 3.45 euros per share.

Sales at US-based biotech subsidiary Sanofi Genzyme were up 37.4% in the fourth quarter, driven by the immunology and rare blood disorder franchises. Vaccines sales increased 9.7%, driven by an influenza differentiation strategy and by Menactra.