Sanofi S.A. (NASDAQ:SNY) has agreed to legally binding commitments to address European Union competition concerns over its alleged campaign against a rival flu vaccine.
The European Commission announced Wednesday that it had accepted Sanofi's commitments following an antitrust investigation into potentially misleading claims about Fluad, a vaccine developed by CSL Seqirus.
The investigation focused on allegations that the French drugmaker sought to undermine rival flu vaccine Fluad through misleading promotional campaigns in Germany and France.
Addressing Regulatory Concerns
Sanofi proposed proactive measures to correct potentially misleading communications about Fluad and promised to avoid any future negative portrayal of the rival drug.
The commission previously determined that Sanofi held a dominant market position for enhanced flu vaccines, designed for adults over 60, in Germany and France.
Regulators worried that between 2024 and late 2025, the pharmaceutical giant targeted healthcare professionals with misleading claims.
According to the commission, Sanofi falsely suggested Fluad possessed a weaker evidentiary foundation than its own vaccine, Efluelda.
The company also allegedly misrepresented national vaccination recommendations and implied Fluad faced unresolved scientific objections, potentially restricting market competition under EU rules.
Legally Binding Commitments
To resolve the antitrust probe, which officially launched in June 2026, Sanofi agreed to strict guidelines lasting until March 2030.
The company will exclude statements from promotional materials and key opinion leader briefings that criticize national recommendations or unfairly elevate Efluelda over Fluad.
Additionally, Sanofi must feature clear references to the most recent national vaccination recommendations in its German promotional materials.
This notice will confirm that national guidelines view both vaccines as equivalent for protecting elderly patients.
Sanofi must also distribute this statement directly to previously targeted healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders in Germany.
SNY Price Action: Sanofi shares were up 2.24% at $40.65 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to market data.
