EU Watchdog Says Teva Might Have Misused Patent System to Hinder Competition
October 10 2022 - 04:34AM
Dow Jones News
By Pierre Bertrand
The European Union has informed Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Ltd. of its preliminary view that the company breached antitrust
rules to shield its multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone from
competition.
The bloc's executive arm, the European Commission, said Monday
that the Israeli-based pharmaceutical company could have
artificially extended its exclusivity on Copaxone by hindering
glatiramer acetate competitors from entering the market.
Teva had a basic patent on glatiramer acetate, Copaxone's active
ingredient, until 2015, the Commission said.
"Our concern is that Teva may have misused the patent system to
shield itself from competition," EU Commission Executive
Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, said in a statement. "It may
have spread misleading information to discredit its closest
competitor, to the detriment of patients and public health systems
across the EU," she added.
If the alleged violations are confirmed, Teva could be fined,
the Commission said.
Write to Pierre Bertrand at pierre.bertrand@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 10, 2022 04:19 ET (08:19 GMT)
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