On February 19, 2026, the Texas Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against Sanofi alleging that the company engaged in bribery of healthcare providers to boost prescriptions of its drugs. The complaint accuses Sanofi of offering financial incentives through its “Free Nurse Program” and “Support Services Program,” which the state claims functioned as illegal kickbacks by providing in‑kind services that helped providers navigate Medicaid reimbursement and support patients, thereby encouraging the prescription of Sanofi’s products over alternatives.
The lawsuit details that the programs were designed to assist providers with administrative tasks and patient support, but the Texas Attorney General’s office argues that the services were used to influence prescribing decisions. The complaint seeks damages and an injunction, with monetary relief sought exceeding one million dollars, including civil penalties under the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act, which prohibits kickback schemes intended to influence healthcare decisions.
Sanofi has responded that its services are structured to comply with applicable federal and state laws and are intended to support patients, not to influence prescribing decisions. The company has stated it is “zealously defending this litigation” and maintains that the programs are legitimate patient‑support initiatives. No specific drugs are named in the complaint, and Sanofi has not identified particular medications in its response.
The lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of legal action by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against pharmaceutical companies. Paxton previously sued Sanofi and Bristol‑Myers Squibb over alleged failures to disclose the ineffectiveness of Plavix for certain patient populations, and he sued Eli Lilly in August 2025 for similar bribery allegations related to GLP‑1 medications. Sanofi has faced prior bribery charges, including a 2018 settlement with the SEC for $25 million over payments in the Middle East. The current filing underscores the heightened regulatory scrutiny of pharmaceutical marketing and sales practices in Texas and nationwide.
The lawsuit poses a significant legal and financial risk for Sanofi. If the allegations are proven, the company could face substantial civil penalties and reputational harm, potentially affecting its market position and investor confidence. The case also signals to the industry that state attorneys general are actively pursuing enforcement actions against alleged kickback schemes, which may prompt broader compliance reviews and policy adjustments across the sector.
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