The Hindu Business Line : Lupin, 2 others face Europe anti-trust probe

Mumbai, July 9 Faced with an anti-trust probe by the European Commission, drug-makers Lupin and Unichem have said they are working with the EC to sort out issues relating to investigations started against them in connection with cardio-vascular drug Perindopril.

Restrictive agreements

The EU had said in its recent inquiry report that French drug maker Les Laboratoires Servier had struck “possibly restrictive” agreements with generic makers, including Lupin, Matrix and Unichem to slow the entry of generic perindopril, according to overseas media.

Lupin shares closed down one per cent at Rs 800 on the BSE.

The investigation is still at an early stage and the EC has said that the publication of its statement does not imply it has proof of an infringement of the competition rules, Lupin told the media.

A Unichem top-official told Business Line that its UK subsidiary Niche was in a tripartite agreement with Matrix and Les Laboratoires Servier regarding the said drug.

Niche was to merely market the product and had not started selling it. Matrix was the developer and formulator of the generic version and it had direct alliances with Servier and Niche. Unichem was doing the contract manufacturing for the product.

Unichem and Niche come under the ambit of the investigation via this alliance, but the two companies do not hold patents on this drug and so there is no infringement, he added.

Unichem has already responded to the inquiry and will continue to do so, he added.

Unichem shares closed down over 2 per cent, at Rs 198 on the BSE.

More Stories on : Regulatory Bodies & Rulings | Pharmaceuticals

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page