EU launches probe into Sanofi over flu vaccine marketing

Flu vaccines are an important business area for Sanofi, especially in France where they are widely used in national vaccination programs

The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into French pharmaceutical company Sanofi over concerns that it may have broken EU competition rules while promoting a flu vaccine.

The case focuses on Sanofi enhanced flu vaccine, Efluelda, which is designed to give stronger protection for people above 60. This vaccine competes with Fluad, a product made by Australia CSL Seqirus.

The Commission said it suspects Sanofi ran a misleading marketing campaign that presented flu as inferior to Efluelda. It also said the campaign went against vaccination guidance in several European countries. Officials said the promotion mainly targeted healthcare professionals in Germany and France, where Sanofi holds a strong market position.

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Sanofi confirmed last year that the EU had started looking into its practices in the flu vaccine market. The company rejected all allegations and said it follows all competition laws and regulations. A company spokesperson described the investigation as a normal procedural step and said it does not decide the final outcome. Sanofi also said it remains committed to fair competition and continued access to vaccines.

Flu vaccines are an important business area for Sanofi, especially in France where they are widely used in national vaccination programs. The company also faces competition from firms such as CSL Seqirus and US based Viatris.

If regulators find that Sanofi violated competition rules, the European Commission could impose a heavy fine for abuse of a dominant market position. The company may also offer changes or commitments to address the concerns during the investigation.