EU Probes Danish Drug Maker for Generic Drug Delay
From Associated Press (January 7, 2010)
BRUSSELS--European Union regulators said Thursday that they suspect
Danish drug maker Lundbeck may have delayed the launch of a generic
version of its antidepressant drug in Europe.
The European Commission said it had opened a formal antitrust
investigation to check whether H. Lundbeck A/S made deals with
other pharmaceutical companies to delay them selling citralopram
after Lundbeck's exclusive right to the drug it developed ran out
in 2003.
Citralopram is one of the most widely used drugs to treat
depression and anxiety and is sold under the name Celexa in the
U.S. and Canada and Cipramil in most of Europe. It acts by altering
serotonin levels which can raise a person's mood.
Regulators said they would investigate the allegations "as a matter
of priority." There is no deadline for wrapping up the case.
The EU's competition commissioner Neelie Kroes warned in July that
major drug makers face a wave of antitrust investigations. The EU
concluded a broad inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector by saying
that drugs companies are deliberately stalling cheaper generic
versions of their own medicines once exclusive patents
expire.
The EU says generic drugs are on average 40 percent cheaper than
their branded rivals two years after they launch. It warned that it
knew of at least 200 settlement agreements _ some including
payments to delay drug launches _ between generic and brand-name
drug makers that could restrict the rollout of generic version
Posted: January 2010
