Brussels, 30/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - As announced by Commissioner Almunia last week (see EUROPE 10663) and following up on proceedings initiated in July 2009 (see EUROPE 9938), on Monday 30 July 2012, the European Commission sent a statement of objections to French pharmaceutical company Servier and other pharmaceutical companies about their practices delaying the sale of generic perindopril, a cardiovascular drug made by Servier. The Commission says the patent settlement agreements concluded by Servier with Niche/Unichem, Matrix (today Mylan Laboratories Limited), Teva, Krka and Lupin, as well as Servier's acquisition of key competing technologies were aimed at delaying or preventing the market entry of cheap generic versions of perindopril, in violation of EU antitrust rules. The statement of objections has been sent to Servier SAS, Les Laboratoires Servier, Servier Laboratories Ltd., Adir, Biogaran (all part of the Servier company), Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd., Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe BV and Teva UK Ltd. (belonging to the TEVA company), Unichem Laboratories Ltd and its subsidiaries Niche Generics Limited, Mylan Incorporated and its subsidiary Mylan Laboratories Limited (formerly Matrix), Krka, d.d., Novo mesto and Lupin Ltd. The companies may be fined up to 10% of their annual turnover. (FG/transl.fl)