Sales increased more than 10% at Sanofi in the third quarter to €8.7 billion, despite the loss of €471 million due to generic competition compared to the same period a year ago.

Total sales grew 10.1% along with an 11% increase in growth platforms after strong performances in its diabetes, vaccines and consumer health divisions.

Christopher A. Viehbacher, Sanofi CEO, says the return to growth in sales and earnings is an “important milestone as the company progressively puts the patent cliff behind it”.

Growth platforms and Genzyme accounted for 68.5% of total sales after the recently acquired business recorded sales up 6.9% to €768 million.

Pharmaceutical net sales were up a tenth to €6.9 billion and helped year-to-date net sales rise 5.5% to €20 billion, despite generic competition to Lovenox, Ambien CR and Taxotere in the US and Plavix (pictured) and Taxotere in the EU plus the impact of US healthcare reform and EU austerity measures.

Its diabetes division was driven by a strong US and Emerging Markets performance which resulted in a 12.4% increase in sales after Lantus recorded growth of 14.6% and 23.4%, in respective markets. Growth in Sanofi’s vaccine division also increased 16.7% after a solid demand for seasonal flu medication in the US.

The Sanofi Group now expects 2011 business net income to be between 2%-5% lower than last year’s total. “We continue to make strong progress in R&D with the submission of five new products and also in the tight control of our costs,” said Mr Viehbacher.

It was reported this week that Sanofi is set to overtake Pfizer as the world’s biggest pharmaceutical company by 2016.

Submissions have been recently filed for Lyxumia (lixisenatide) in the EU, Aubagio (teriflunomide) and Zaltrap (aflibercept) in the US; Visamerin/Mulsevo (semuloparin) in the US and EU; plus Kynamro (mipomersen) in the EU.

The company released its Q3 performance on the day it announced it was cutting jobs in its US R&D and sales divisions.

Genzyme and Isis Pharmaceuticals have submitted a marketing authorisation application to the EMA for the approval of Kynamro (mipomersen) to treat homozygous and severe heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Kynamro is a first-in-class apo-B synthesis inhibitor currently in late-stage development for the reduction of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C).

Paula Soteropoulos, Vice President and General Manager of Genzyme’s Cardiovascular Business, says the submission is a “significant step in the development of mipomersen”.

The US regulatory submission of inhibitor is now planned for later this year.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disease that results in increased LDL-C levels and can lead to premature heart disease and heart disease-related death.

Patients with severe familiar hypercholesterolemia have cholesterol levels two-to-four times higher than recommended levels, even when taking multiple cholesterol-lowering medication.

“Mipomersen has the potential to change the management of patients with homozygous and severe heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia,” said Stanley Crook, Chairman and CEO of Isis Pharmaceuticals.