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European Commission Ends Boehringer Antitrust Probe
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- Publication：2011/7/8
The European Commission has closed an antitrust probe of German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim after the company agreed to remove obstacles to rival products.
The company was accused of blocking market entry of competition to its blockbuster drug Spiriva, used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Spanish pharmaceutical firm Almirall claimed that Boehringer filed for unwarranted patents in 2003 regarding new chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatments, and the Commission investigated the alleged misuse of the patent system.
The Commission had asked both Boehringer and Almirall to find a mutually acceptable solution last year, and Boehringer has since lifted obstacles that were blocking the launch of Almirall's product.
European Commission competition policy vice-president Joaquin Almunia said: "This positive outcome means that it will now be easier to introduce new innovative medicines for the treatment of certain lung diseases."