Brussels, 09/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission on Monday refused to comment on rumours that it is considering taking action against the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca. A Commission spokesperson simply repeated that the Commission would not confirm or comment. The Commission has examined alleged abuse of the patent system whereby AstraZeneca attempted to extend the time its ulcer drug, Losec, was protected.
According to the Financial Times, the competition service has submitted the outcome of the investigation (launched in July 2003) to a panel of devil's advocates for them to examine all aspects of it. The devil's advocates are reported to have finished their work at the end of June, approving the results of the investigation and supporting the Commission's arguments. Mario Monti, Competition Commissioner until the end of October, could submit a draft decision to the College of Commissioners next month.
AstraZeneca is suspected of infringing competition rules by submitting false information to the national competition authorities issuing additional protection certificates, and of requesting the withdrawal of authorisations to market the drug in capsule form. AstraZeneca changed the initial formula of Losec, moving from capsules to tablets, and is alleged to have attempted to prevent the manufacturers of generic drugs and parallel importers from distributing their products since they only have authorisation to market the initial formula (see Europe of 1 August 2003).