By Billy Gray

Sanofi said it would execute a 1 billion-euro ($1.20 billion) share buyback program this year, and posted a rise in fourth-quarter sales.

The French drugmaker on Thursday reported sales of 11.30 billion euros for the period, up 13% on year at constant currency. Business operating profit--one of the company's preferred metrics, which strips out exceptional items--rose 12.7% to 2.34 billion euros compared with the prior-year period.

Analysts had expected 11.14 billion euros in sales and business operating profit of 2.37 billion euros for the quarter, according to consensus estimates provided by Vara Research.

Investors have been scrutinizing the strength of Sanofi's pipeline in light of recent trial setbacks that were especially disappointing given the imminent loss of patent exclusivity for its blockbuster drug Dupixent. Houman Ashrafian, head of research and development, said in a call with reporters that 2025 was clearly a mixed year.

The group has turned to deals to bolster its sizeable vaccine portfolio, including its $2.2 billion acquisition of vaccine specialist Dynavax Technologies in December.

Sanofi forecast 2026 sales to grow by a high single-digit percentage, and business earnings per share to grow slightly faster than sales, both at constant exchange rates.

Write to Billy Gray at william.gray@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 29, 2026 06:20 ET (11:20 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.