Sanofi has appointed Paulo Fontoura as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research & Development Pharma, effective September 1, 2026. In his new role, he will join the company’s Executive Committee, report directly to Chief Executive Officer Belén Garijo and oversee the entire innovation value chain, from research and translational medicine to clinical development and regulatory affairs.
The appointment comes as Sanofi continues to advance its R&D transformation and strengthen its pipeline across multiple therapeutic areas. Fontoura succeeds Houman Ashrafian, who is leaving the company after three years to pursue an opportunity outside Sanofi.
Sanofi strengthens its R&D leadership
Fontoura brings more than 25 years of experience spanning academic medicine, translational science, clinical development and pharmaceutical innovation. Most recently, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Xaira Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on applying artificial intelligence to drug discovery and development.
Before joining Xaira, he spent more than 15 years at Roche, where he held a range of senior leadership positions. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development for Neuroscience, Immunology, Ophthalmology, Infectious Diseases and Rare Diseases. In that role, he led a global organization of physicians and clinical scientists and managed a broad late-stage development portfolio.
Research and development remain a strategic priority
With the appointment of Fontoura, Sanofi reinforces its commitment to research and development as a key driver of future growth. He will be responsible for advancing the company’s pipeline and accelerating the development of innovative medicines across a range of therapeutic areas.
During his tenure at Roche, the teams under his leadership contributed to the development of more than 60 new molecular entities. Their work resulted in over 20 first approvals and label extensions by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Several of these therapies represented significant advances in neuroscience, immunology, ophthalmology and rare diseases.
Sanofi relies on scientific and leadership expertise
Commenting on the appointment, Belén Garijo thanked Houman Ashrafian for his contributions to the company over the past three years and wished him success in his future endeavors. She also welcomed Paulo Fontoura to the Executive Committee, highlighting his extensive experience across research, development and innovation. According to Garijo, his scientific expertise and leadership background will play an important role in advancing Sanofi’s pipeline and shaping the future direction of the company’s R&D organization.
Focus on innovation and artificial intelligence
Fontoura said he was excited to join Sanofi at a pivotal moment in the company’s development. He noted that Sanofi had established a strong leadership position in immunology while also building significant capabilities in several other areas of high unmet medical need. He emphasized the company’s commitment to scientific innovation and AI-driven transformation and expressed his intention to help expand and strengthen the pipeline while further enhancing Sanofi’s position within the biopharmaceutical industry.
The appointment also reflects Sanofi’s broader strategy of integrating advanced digital technologies into pharmaceutical research and development. Over recent years, the company has increased its focus on data-driven innovation and the use of artificial intelligence to accelerate drug discovery and development.
