EU Commission fines Teva $500M for misusing patents and disparaging rival to maintain monopoly on MS drug Copaxone.
The European Commission has hit Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva with a hefty fine of over $500 million for engaging in unfair tactics to maintain its dominance in the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug market.
According to the Commission, Teva “misused the patent system” to artificially extend the protection for its blockbuster MS medication, Copaxone, and launched a “disparagement campaign” against a rival company, Synthon, which was developing a competing generic version of the drug.
The Commission found that Teva had spread information that contradicted findings by health authorities, with the aim of sowing doubt about the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic equivalence of Synthon’s product.
This effort was reportedly targeted at doctors and groups involved in drug pricing and reimbursement, in an attempt to delay or block the rival’s entry into several European markets.
The Commission’s decision highlights the regulatory body’s commitment to maintaining a fair and competitive pharmaceutical landscape, which ultimately benefits patients and healthcare systems through the availability of more affordable generic drugs.
Teva has expressed its disagreement with the Commission’s findings and plans to appeal the decision.
However, the $500 million fine and the requirement to refrain from similar practices in the future serve as a stark warning to pharmaceutical companies against engaging in anti-competitive behavior.
This case underscores the ongoing scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry and the efforts by regulatory authorities to ensure that patients have access to a diverse range of safe and effective treatments at reasonable prices.