Zentiva is part of the generics business of the Sanofi group and an important player in the European market. Founded in the Czech Republic, it currently operates in fifty markets around the world. The Senior Vice President and Head of Sanofi Generics and the MCO Coordinator of Sanofi Group Czech Republic & Slovakia discuss the company’s strategy and main priorities for the future. Mr Arnaud, you’ve held the position of Senior Vice President for Global Generics since April 2015. What have been your major priorities ever since? Jean-Marie Arnaud [JMA]: Over the past few years, Sanofi’s Global Generics business has evolved as Zentiva in Europe. We have moved from an organization with a regional focus in two distinct directions. Firstly, we have been investing to create a global generics franchise, better able to manage the business all around the world and leveraging the Sanofi footprint. Secondly, we have been investing in innovation to differentiate generic products with added value; this has led to the development of an innovative program in asthma and COPD for example. [Featured_in] My main objective is to continue the process of globalizing our operations. Stemming from a narrow product base that was marketed and exported across Europe, we are now developing products with a global plan from the very beginning of the process in a way that reflects country or regional-related requirements and with a strong focus on patient needs. Beyond globalization, we are fostering various sources of innovation, for instance by supporting a dedicated strategic organization to drive portfolio innovation to the next level. Can you please outline the strategy you’ve implemented since taking up this position? JMA: Strategically, we are aligned with the overall mission of Sanofi. Our objective is not necessarily to be among the top three global generic companies, but we rather want Sanofi’s generics to support Sanofi’s overall strategic objective. We will continue to work in this direction thanks to a community of people, well skilled to operate in this business model, a kind of hybrid business model between a full generics company and an established products company.

A hybrid business model between a full generics company and an established products company.