BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission is widening the scope
of its inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector, the International Herald Tribune
reported, citing lawyers and European Union (EU) officials.
According to the report, the commission wants to determine whether companies
are blocking the makers of generic drugs from getting less expensive products to
the market quickly.
In addition, it wants to determine whether drug companies' efforts to block
competitors by extending patents are also distracting them from developing new
medicines.
The commission is also questioning around 80 medical organisations,
including associations of doctors, patients, pharmacies and government agencies,
that set the prices of prescription drugs in Europe.
A press officer for competition commissioner Neelie Kroes declined to
comment on the report, saying "it is too early to draw any conclusion at all"
and that the EU executive is "still analysing the information".
The EU executive questioned about 100 companies this year, including Pfizer
Inc., GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi-Aventis as part of its inquiry into the sector,
which was launched on Jan. 16.
The commission said the investigation was in response to "indications" that
competition in pharmaceutical companies in Europe "may not be working well".
nina.chestney@thomsonreuters.com
nc/nc/cmr
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