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EU Raids Vaccine Manufacturer Amid Competition Concerns

By  |  September 30, 2025

The European Commission has carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of a company operating in the vaccine industry. According to a statement, officials are probing potential breaches of EU antitrust laws, particularly Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits abuses of a dominant market position.

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    The Commission confirmed that the focus of the inquiry is on possible exclusionary practices that could constitute anticompetitive disparagement. Per a statement, the inspections were conducted alongside national competition authorities from the relevant member state, highlighting cooperation between EU and domestic regulators.

    Unannounced inspections represent an initial stage of investigation and do not indicate guilt or liability. The Commission emphasized that such actions do not prejudge the outcome of the inquiry. According to a statement, the companies involved retain the right to defend themselves, including the opportunity to be heard in antitrust proceedings.

    Read more: Strategic Alliances in the Pharma Sector: An EU Competition Law Perspective

    The EU’s competition authority noted there is no legal timeframe for completing investigations of this nature, as the duration depends on the complexity of the case, the level of cooperation from the company, and the exercise of defense rights.

    This latest move follows other recent probes in the pharmaceutical sector. The Commission has previously concluded investigations into alleged anticompetitive disparagement in two separate cases, AT.40588 Teva Copaxone and AT.40577 Vifor.

    Source: EC Europa