Brussels, 03/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 3 December, the European Commission confirmed that, on 30 November 2010, Commission officials working with relevant national services, had carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of various pharmaceuticals companies, including AstraZeneca, in several member states. Companies are suspected of having either individually or jointly acted to delay generic entry for a particular medicine, Nexium (AstraZeneca's star medicine against heartburn), which would be tantamount to anti-competitive practice counter to Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty. This kind of inspection is the first stage in a possible inquiry of this kind and does not prejudge the results of the inquiry. (F.G./transl.jl)