Sanofi settles EU antitrust probe over rival flu vaccine claims

· Health · Belgium · France

European Union antitrust regulators accepted concessions from Sanofi to settle a probe into an allegedly misleading campaign that disparaged a rival flu vaccine, allowing the French drugmaker to avoid a fine. The case centered on claims Sanofi made about a competing product, which regulators viewed as potentially anticompetitive marketing. Settling without a penalty lets Sanofi close the matter and continue selling its flu vaccine in Europe, where it is a major supplier. The outcome adds to a run of EU scrutiny over how dominant pharmaceutical companies communicate about rivals, and it comes as the same week brought separate news that the US Federal Trade Commission is pressing its own enforcement actions in the drug industry, including a contempt request against Martin Shkreli.

Why it matters：The settlement shows EU regulators will police how dominant drugmakers market against rivals, setting expectations for comparative claims across Europe's vaccine and generics markets.

Key points

  • The EU accepted Sanofi's concessions and imposed no fine.
  • The probe concerned a campaign that allegedly disparaged a rival flu vaccine.
  • Sanofi is a major supplier of flu vaccines in Europe.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day