Sanofi Taps Xaira's Fontoura as R&D Head to Revive
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- Sanofi named Paulo Fontoura as global head of R&D for its pharma business, effective Sept. 1
- Fontoura, a neurologist by training, most recently served as chief medical officer at Xaira Therapeutics, an AI-focused drug discovery company
- Fontoura previously spent more than 15 years at Roche before moving to the AI drug discovery startup
- Houman Ashrafian, who joined Sanofi in 2023 following years as a health care investor, is being replaced after roughly two years in the role
- Sanofi said Ashrafian "has decided to pursue an opportunity outside the company," without elaborating on where he is headed
- The R&D leadership change comes as Sanofi looks to reinvigorate its pipeline under new CEO Belén Garijo
Why it matters: Fontoura's appointment from AI-discovery firm Xaira gives Sanofi R&D a tech-oriented reset under new CEO Garijo, who is pushing to reinvigorate the pipeline. Ashrafian's exit after a roughly two-year stint adds to early-tenure turnover at a moment when Sanofi is openly trying to spark new drug output.
