Sanofi (SNY) has been sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over allegations that it offers improper incentives to healthcare providers to prescribe its drugs.

The Texas Attorney General's Office said Sanofi created programs that offered services to healthcare providers which amounted to bribes under the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act.

Paxton is seeking more than $1 million in monetary relief, including civil penalties, as well as an injunction to halt any alleged unlawful conduct, the Attorney General's Office added.

Sanofi said the complaint mischaracterizes legitimate patient support programs, including nurse education and reimbursement assistance services.

The company added that the programs comply with federal and state laws.

"The state's intervention has no bearing on the merits of this case, and Sanofi is zealously defending this litigation," the drugmaker said in an emailed statement.