A high-tech production facility for insulin made in Hessen

Sanofi has announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art insulin production facility at its BioCampus in Frankfurt Höchst. This new facility aims to secure the long-term supply of life-saving insulin for people with diabetes while simultaneously strengthening Europe’s supply security. The investment for this project is estimated at approximately €1.3 billion by 2029.

Brendan O’Callaghan
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sanofi in Germany and Sanofi Global Head of Manufacturing & Supply

“With this project, we reaffirm our commitment to diabetes patients worldwide and leverage the extensive expertise of our highly skilled employees at our Frankfurt BioCampus. Sanofi has long-standing experience in developing strategic platforms to ensure the supply of essential medicines and vaccines for both the present and the future. Our dedication to promoting European health sovereignty remains distinctive and unparalleled. As one of the world’s largest insulin producers, we remain committed to producing this vital medicine for the growing number of people with diabetes globally.”

By 2029, several hundred highly qualified professionals are expected to work in the new high-tech insulin facility, which will cover an area of approximately 36,000 square meters—roughly the size of five football fields. The new facility will meet the highest standards of quality and automation, adhere to the highest environmental and sustainability standards, and utilize cutting-edge digital and network solutions to ensure affordable and accessible insulin supplies for diabetes patients worldwide. This new facility will replace existing insulin production plants and will also be equipped with renewable energy sources while incorporating principles of passive waste reduction in building design.

Heidrun Irschik-Hadjieff
Chairwoman of the Management Board of Sanofi in Germany

“Our planned investment underscores the key role of our Frankfurt BioCampus in bolstering the resilience of global insulin production. The strong support of the federal and state governments for a national pharmaceutical strategy is an important signal for the biopharmaceutical industry. I am pleased that this support not only strengthens health sovereignty but also promotes regional and national economic growth and the employment of highly skilled professionals.”

The Sanofi BioCampus is one of the company’s largest integrated production and distribution sites. It is involved in the value chain of many Sanofi medicines, including insulins and a growing number of immunology biologics. The site covers the entire insulin production chain, from producing active ingredients to manufacturing cartridges and vials, assembly of pens and autoinjectors, and global distribution. The Sanofi BioCampus currently supplies patients in about 80 countries with 20 different insulin products. More than 4,000 employees are engaged in the insulin value chain.

Sanofi’s investment is made possible with the support of the German federal government, the state government of Hessen, and the city of Frankfurt and is subject to the approval of the European Commission under the EU state aid procedure. As one of the largest research-driven healthcare companies based in the EU, Sanofi employs 40,000 people in research & development (R&D), production, and distribution. Sanofi is strongly committed to advancing one of the most valuable industrial sectors for the European economy in terms of R&D investments, employment of highly skilled professionals in production & manufacturing, and the associated impact on adjacent industries. Sanofi has historically produced over 60% of its global output in the European Union. Approximately 5% of its active ingredients are sourced from Asia, compared to an industry average of 80%.