Sanofi-Aventis Fined €40.6 Million for Disparaging Generic Rivals to Plavix

Summary

In May 2013, France's Autorité de la concurrence fined Sanofi-Aventis €40.6 million for a strategy aimed at disparaging generic versions of Plavix to doctors and pharmacists. The authority found that the conduct was designed to limit generic entry and favor both Plavix and Sanofi's own generic, Clopidogrel Winthrop. It concluded that Sanofi-Aventis abused its dominant position in the French market for clopidogrel dispensed through retail pharmacies and described the practices as particularly serious. Source: Autorité de la concurrence https://www.autoritedelaconcurrence.fr/fr/communiques-de-presse/lautorite-de-la-concurrence-sanctionne-sanofi-aventis-hauteur-de-406-millions