Overview
- The European Commission has formally opened a competition investigation into Sanofi's promotion of its enhanced flu vaccine Efluelda on suspicion the company ran a misleading campaign against CSL Seqirus’s Fluad.
- The probe focuses on targeted marketing to healthcare professionals in France and Germany where regulators say Sanofi holds strong market positions for vaccines for people over 60.
- Sanofi denies any breach of EU competition rules and says it has acted in full compliance with laws, calling the inquiry a procedural step that does not prejudge the outcome.
- If the Commission finds anticompetitive conduct it can impose fines for abuse of dominance or accept behavioural commitments from Sanofi to address the concerns.
- The case underscores how valuable the enhanced flu vaccine market for older adults has become and signals closer EU scrutiny of pharmaceutical marketing that could affect national vaccination supplies and procurement practices.