EU Commission opens antitrust probe into Sanofi's flu vaccine campaign (updated)

Sanofi SA

26/06/2026 11:34

Adds Sanofi reaction in paragraphs 4-5

    BRUSSELS, June 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission opened an investigation on Friday into whether French drugmaker Sanofi SASY.PA breached EU competition rules in a flu vaccine marketing campaign.
The Commission said it was concerned that Sanofi had carried out a misleading campaign to sell its "Efluelda" flu vaccine while disparaging a rival one called "Fluad" made by CSL Seqirus CSL.AX, primarily in France and Germany.
In both markets, Sanofi holds a dominant position, the Commission added.
"Sanofi is confident that it has acted, and continues to act, in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including competition law," a company spokesperson said in a statement. 
"The Company takes these matters seriously and is cooperating fully with the European Commission throughout the process."
The investigation followed unannounced raids on Sanofi offices carried out in September 2025. 

 (Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
 ((Inti.Landauro@thomsonreuters.com;))