Sanofi replaced CEO Paul Hudson after a series of setbacks in its research and development pipeline.[5] The position will be taken over by the head of Merck KGaA Belén.[5] Hudson has been CEO of Sanofi since September 2019 and previously served as CEO of Novartis Pharmaceuticals from 2016 to 2019.[2] Under Hudson's leadership, Sanofi focused on restructuring, including the sale of a 50% stake in Opella's consumer health division, and acquisitions in rare diseases and immunology.[1] Despite these efforts, the company faced challenges including drug rejection by regulatory authorities and pressure on drug prices.[3] Hudson's departure marks the end of a period in which he attempted to transform Sanofi into a modern healthcare company focused on digital transformation and artificial intelligence.[1]