Two French giant pharmaceutical companies- CFAO Healthcare, a unit of the French conglomerate CFAO Group, and Sanofi Pharmaceutical Industry Company, have strengthened their partnership by extending what they described as “the exclusive distribution of general medicines in Nigeria.”
In a statement Friday, CFAO announced the expansion with Sanofi noting that the “move fortifies their strategic partnership.”
“Aware of the evolutions and challenges in the Nigerian pharmaceutical landscape, CFAO Healthcare and Sanofi are joining forces, capitalising on their expertise and historical presence to optimise access to quality healthcare,” CFAO noted in the statement.
It added that “CFAO Healthcare is addressing today’s challenges, highlighting the continuity and stability of pharmaceutical distribution – a strategic alliance dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare in Nigeria.”
Sanofi had in November 2023 reportedly planned to cease operations from Nigeria as it announced the appointment of a third-party distributor to handle its commercial portfolio of medicines from February 2024 solely.
In 2023, at least five multinationals ceased operations in Nigeria, including the British multinational drugmaker and biotechnology company GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK), Procter & Gamble, and Unilever, the manufacturer of iconic products such as Omo, Sunlight Soap and others.
According to CFAO, with its acclaimed continuous presence in Nigeria for 120 years, the company said it is actively deepening its roots, consolidating its position in the country, and making Nigeria the 26th country in the ongoing partnership with Sanofi.
“This aim is to maintain product availability and quality services for the different local operators and patients,” CFAO noted.
