Stuck in its delay in the race for the anti-Covid vaccine, it is a controversy that Sanofi would have done well.
The French pharmaceutical group intends to cut 400 positions in the research and development (R&D) branch, the unions learned - information that Sanofi did not confirm -, contacted by telephone.
But already, some have not failed to establish a link between the downsizing and the current difficulties.
"One can wonder if the delay in the development of the vaccine is not linked to this loss of skills, to this loss of know-how," pointed out this Monday finger Philippe Martinez, the secretary general of the CGT.
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“Everything I currently hear about the fact that Sanofi is divesting in its R&D in France is false, it is quite the opposite.
We are going to be a few months late, but it will remain a vaccine that will arrive in less than two years, which is a record for developments of a vaccine of this type with a recombinant protein ”, reacted yesterday to AFP Olivier Bogillot, its president France.
"Half the number of researchers"
Officially, the controversy over the job cuts would even be a comet tail, the group having already announced last summer a plan to cut jobs, including 1,700 in Europe, including 1,000 in France.
“Those who complain today are the representatives of the CGT pharmacy, slips an internal source.
For vaccine R&D, the number of researchers has not changed in recent years ”.
The group claims that it will invest 610 million euros in its “vaccine hub” in the Lyon region, and more than 6 billion euros in R&D in France over the next three years.
"It is true that the reductions of 400 jobs will largely concern the Chemicals branch," confirms Laurent Biessy, central delegate of CGT Pasteur on the Marcy-L'Etoile site in Lyon (Rhône).
Which does not make this decision more acceptable.
We are witnessing a dismantling of this whole branch.
The numbers speak for themselves.
In 2007, it had more than 6,000 researchers.
Today is half as much.
"
Is it a good idea ?
This is confirmed by Nathalie Coutinet, health economist and teacher at the Sorbonne: “These job cuts are part of a logic of reducing the R&D workforce at Sanofi for several years.
Today, Sanofi is focusing on its
blockbusters
- ultra-profitable products - which it has in its portfolio, but is it really smart to reduce its research capacity on drugs?
"
From a union source, Sanofi would have received more than 1.3 billion euros in research tax credit in ten years.
Not to mention the recovery plan and vaccine pre-orders to fund research.
In June 2020, during a visit to this same site, Emmanuel Macron also announced the release of 200 million euros for the development of a vaccine against the coronavirus.
