Drug firms targeted in antitrust raids

Companies suspected of abusing market position.

The European Commission has carried out raids on several pharmaceutical companies that it suspects worked together to delay the market entry of cheaper generic drugs.

The Commission today revealed that it carried out the unannounced inspections on Tuesday (30 November) in various member states.

It did not reveal the names of the firms that were raided, although AstraZeneca, an Anglo-Swedish company, confirmed that inspections took place at its premises concerning the ulcer drug Nexium.

A Commission statement said: “The Commission has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have acted individually or jointly, notably to delay generic entry for a particular medicine.

“If confirmed, this could be a potential violation of EU antitrust rules that prohibit restrictive business practices and/or the abuse of a dominant market position.”

EU regulators were accompanied on the raids by national competition authorities.
 
The Commission said the inspections were a preliminary step and did not prejudge the outcome of any investigation.