Sanofi says under investigation by European Commission over vaccines

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -French pharmaceutical group Sanofi said on Tuesday that representatives of the European Commission had visited its premises in France and Germany on Monday in connection with an investigation into its conduct in the seasonal flu vaccine space.

The company said it is confident that it is compliant with the relevant rules and regulations and will cooperate fully with the European Commission.

The EU executive arm said earlier on Tuesday it was carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of a company active in the vaccines sector, without naming the firm.

The EU executive arm said it had concerns the company had violated its antitrust rules that prohibit abuses of a dominant market position. It is investigating possible exclusionary practices that may amount to anticompetitive disparagement, the commission said.

Relevant national competition authorities accompanied European Commission officials.

(Reporting by Makini Brice and GV De Clercq; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten)