Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY) has been found to have violated the U.K.'s pharmaceutical marketing code after a senior executive made misleading claims in an October 2024 interview, prompting a complaint from rival Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE).
The case centers on statements made about Sanofi's RSV drug, Beyfortus, in The Observer.
Pfizer accused Sanofi of breaching several provisions, including promoting a prescription-only medicine to the public, making unsubstantiated superiority claims, and disparaging Pfizer's RSV vaccine and the U.K.’s immunization program.
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) ruled that Sanofi had violated multiple clauses of the 2024 ABPI Code, including those related to high standards and misleading advertising.
The Panel focused on three key claims in the article.
- One, stating an 82% reduction in RSV hospitalizations in Spain following Beyfortus use, was found to have lacked crucial context, including safety information and absolute risk data.
- Another claim suggested Beyfortus was more effective than Pfizer's RSV vaccine, despite a lack of direct clinical comparison.
- The third claim criticized the U.K. government for choosing Pfizer's vaccine on cost rather than clinical benefit.
Sanofi argued it had no intention to promote Beyfortus or criticize other vaccines, claiming limited control over the final article. However, the panel rejected these defenses, holding the company responsible for the information provided to the journalist and for failing to exercise sufficient caution in a public interview.
The ruling, completed in December 2025, concluded that Sanofi's actions damaged the pharmaceutical industry's reputation. Sanofi has agreed to corrective measures following the findings.
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