Yesterday, the European Commission fined the Israeli pharmaceutical group Teva 426.6 million euros for what it said was “abuse of a dominant position” for its drug against multiple sclerosis, Copaxone.
The Israeli company immediately condemned the “baseless” decision and announced that it would appeal against it.
In a statement, Brussels accused the Teva company of “systematically spreading false information about a competing product to prevent that product from entering the market.”
The European Commission also faulted the Israeli company for “artificially” extending the drug’s patent to block its rivals.
Teva has denied all the allegations and said it is well prepared financially to defend itself.
The company gave assurances that it carries out its activities “legally and ethically” and that it is a solid partner of Europe and its patients.
Teva is primarily a generic drug giant, but it also sells its own drugs such as Copaxone.
About two weeks ago, the United States (U.S.) Department of Justice announced that the laboratory would pay $450 million to settle civil lawsuits in the U.S. related to the payment of bribes to increase sales of Copaxone and to fix the price of an anti-cholesterol drug, Pravastatin.
