Teva Pharmaceutical Industries : European Commission Opens Antitrust Investigation Against Teva Over Multiple-Sclerosis Drug

By Cecilia Butini

The European Commission said Thursday that it has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Israel-based pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to assess whether it behaved in an anti-competitive manner with regards to its multiple-sclerosis drug Copaxone.

The investigation aims to determine whether Teva illegally delayed the market entry and uptake of medicines that compete with its own, the Commission said.

It will also examine whether the company has put together a communication campaign with the goal of hindering the use of competing products with the same active principle, it said.

Teva's alleged behavior may amount to an abuse of dominant position if proven, the Commission said.

Write to Cecilia Butini at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-04-21 0604ET