Sanofi Names Former Xaira and Roche Executive Paulo Fontoura as Global Head of R&D Pharma

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(IN BRIEF) Sanofi has appointed Paulo Fontoura as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research & Development Pharma, effective September 1, 2026. Based in Paris and reporting to CEO Belén Garijo, Fontoura will join Sanofi’s Executive Committee and lead the company’s pharmaceutical R&D activities across research, translational medicine, clinical development and regulatory affairs. He succeeds Dr Houman Ashrafian, who is leaving to pursue an opportunity outside the company. Fontoura joins from Xaira Therapeutics, where he served as Chief Medical Officer, and previously spent more than 15 years at Roche, most recently as Global Head of Clinical Development across neuroscience, immunology, ophthalmology, infectious diseases and rare diseases. His teams contributed to the development of more than 60 new molecular entities and supported more than 20 FDA and EMA approvals or line extensions. Sanofi said the appointment supports its continuing R&D transformation, pipeline development and use of AI-powered innovation to advance new medicines.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 22-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Sanofi has appointed Paulo Fontoura, MD, PhD, FAAN, as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research & Development Pharma, effective September 1, 2026.

Fontoura will join Sanofi’s Executive Committee, be based in Paris and report to Chief Executive Officer Belén Garijo. He will lead the company’s end-to-end pharmaceutical research and development organisation, covering research, translational medicine, clinical development and regulatory affairs.

In the role, Fontoura will be responsible for advancing Sanofi’s pipeline of differentiated medicines and supporting the company’s efforts to accelerate the delivery of new treatments to patients across multiple therapeutic areas.

He succeeds Dr Houman Ashrafian, who has decided to pursue an opportunity outside Sanofi after three years with the company.

Fontoura joins Sanofi with more than 25 years of experience across academic medicine, translational science, clinical development and pharmaceutical innovation. His appointment comes as Sanofi continues to reshape its R&D organisation and advance medicines in areas of significant unmet medical need.

Most recently, Fontoura served as Chief Medical Officer at Xaira Therapeutics, an AI-native biotechnology company focused on using generative artificial intelligence to transform drug discovery and development.

Before joining Xaira, he spent more than 15 years at Roche, where he held a series of senior leadership positions. His most recent role at Roche was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development for Neuroscience, Immunology, Ophthalmology, Infectious and Rare Diseases.

During his tenure, Fontoura led a global organisation of physicians and clinical scientists and was responsible for a broad late-stage clinical portfolio spanning several therapeutic fields. His teams contributed to the development of more than 60 new molecular entities across different treatment modalities, supporting more than 20 FDA and EMA first approvals and line extensions, including therapies in neuroscience, rare diseases, immunology and ophthalmology.

A board-certified neurologist and physician-scientist, Fontoura has played a role in the development of medicines across neuroscience, immunology, rare diseases, ophthalmology and infectious diseases.

Belén Garijo, Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi, thanked Dr Ashrafian for his contribution to the company and welcomed Fontoura to the Executive Team. She said Fontoura brings a strong record across research, development and innovation, along with experience leading large-scale R&D organisations.

Garijo said his scientific expertise and development experience will support Sanofi as it continues to strengthen its pipeline and shape the next phase of its research and development strategy.

Fontoura said he is joining Sanofi at an important point in the company’s development. He noted that Sanofi has established a leadership position in immunology and built a strong presence in other areas with significant unmet medical need, while also advancing scientific innovation and AI-powered transformation.

He said he looks forward to working with Sanofi’s teams to expand and transform the company’s pipeline and help advance breakthrough medicines for patients worldwide.

Fontoura holds an MD and PhD from the New University of Lisbon and completed postdoctoral training in neuroimmunology at Stanford University. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

The appointment reinforces Sanofi’s focus on combining scientific research, clinical development, digital technologies and artificial intelligence to strengthen its pharmaceutical innovation engine and support the next generation of medicines.

About Sanofi
Sanofi is an R&D driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. We apply our deep understanding of the immune system to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world, with an innovative pipeline that could benefit millions more. Our team is guided by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives; this inspires us to drive progress and deliver positive impact for our people and the communities we serve, by addressing the most urgent healthcare, environmental, and societal challenges of our time. Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY

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SOURCE: Sanofi