Sanofi has released plans to create five global business units: General Medicines and Emerging Markets; Specialty Care; Diabetes and Cardiovascular; Sanofi Pasteur; and Merial. This new structure will be implemented beginning in January 2016.

"The new organization simplifies and focuses Sanofi to optimize growth," said Olivier Brandicourt, chief executive officer, Sanofi. "This is a necessary step for ensuring that Sanofi's new medicines and vaccines continue to build on our heritage of providing innovative healthcare therapies."

The General Medicines and Emerging Markets global business unit will be led by Peter Guenter and will consist of Sanofi's established products, generics, consumer healthcare, and all pharmaceutical businesses in emerging markets.

The Specialty Care global business unit, to be called Sanofi Genzyme, will be led by David Meeker and will consist of Sanofi's medicines in rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology and immunology, including the two, investigational biologics, sarilumab and dupilumab.

The Diabetes and Cardiovascular global business unit will be led by Pascale Witz and will consist of Sanofi's diabetes care medicines as well as cardiovascular, including Praluent (alirocumab), which is currently under review by the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency ( EMA ).

Sanofi Pasteur and Merial are both global business units and will continue to manage their current portfolios of vaccines and animal health products. Olivier Charmeil will continue to lead Sanofi Pasteur and Carsten Hellmann will continue to lead Merial.

The composition of the executive committee remains unchanged and the leadership roles announced above are effective January 1, 2016.