A French court has ordered Sanofi to pay 177 million euro after ruling that the company engaged in anti-competitive behaviour to protect sales of its blockbuster blood thinner, Plavix. The decision follows a long-running investigation into allegations that Sanofi misled doctors and pharmacists about the safety of generic versions of the drug.

France’s Competition Authority first imposed the penalty in 2013, concluding that Sanofi sought to undermine confidence in cheaper alternatives to Plavix by suggesting they were less safe and less effective. The company was accused of using its sales representatives and marketing campaigns to cast doubt on generics, despite these medicines having been approved by regulators.

Sanofi appealed against the ruling, but the court has now upheld the fine, representing a major legal setback for the company. The 177 million euro penalty remains among the largest competition fines ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer in France.

The outcome highlights growing scrutiny of pharmaceutical companies’ commercial practices in Europe, particularly in relation to their handling of competition from generics. Analysts suggest the ruling could serve as a warning to other firms considering similar tactics to delay the adoption of lower-cost medicines.