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Sanofi reaches EU antitrust settlement over influenza vaccine advertising
Sanofi has reached an agreement with the European Commission to resolve antitrust concerns regarding the marketing of its influenza vaccine. The French pharmaceutical company has committed to cease disparaging a competing vaccine in its advertising.
The European Commission had investigated allegations that Sanofi used its market power to present its vaccine, Efluelda, as superior to the competitor product, Fluad, through false or misleading claims in Germany and France since 2024. This investigation included searches of Sanofi's premises in both countries in September 2025.
As part of the settlement, Sanofi must revise its advertising materials and publish an online statement acknowledging the scientific evidence supporting both its own vaccine and the competing product. EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera stated that the decision ensures medical professionals and patients can make choices based on impartial scientific assessments.
Failure to adhere to these legally binding commitments could result in severe penalties, including fines of up to ten percent of Sanofi's total annual worldwide turnover or daily penalty payments of five percent of its daily turnover.
Entities
Efluelda · European Commission · Fluad · Sanofi · Teresa Ribera
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Commission can also impose a daily penalty payment of five percent of the daily turnover for non-compliance. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.finanzen.ch · www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Commission suspected Sanofi had used false or misleading claims since 2024 to present its Efluelda vaccine as superior to the competitor Fluad in Germany and France. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.finanzen.ch · www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Failure to comply with the commitments could result in a fine of up to ten percent of Sanofi's total annual worldwide turnover. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.finanzen.ch · www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sanofi has committed to not disparaging a competing influenza vaccine in its advertising. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.finanzen.ch · www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera stated that misleading information from dominant pharma companies distorts competition and undermines the choice of doctors and patients. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.finanzen.ch · www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sanofi must revise advertising materials and publish an online statement acknowledging scientific evidence for both its own vaccine and the competitor's. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.finanzen.ch · www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Commission searched Sanofi's premises in Germany and France in September 2025 due to suspicions of market power abuse. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.finanzen.ch · www.upday.com