Turkey Opens Antitrust Probe Into Teva Over Copaxone Patent Strategy
核心洞察
Turkey's Competition Authority has opened an investigation into Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (搜索) over suspected anticompetitive conduct in the local pharmaceutical market.
The probe examines whether Teva used patent procedures strategically and created a "misleading" impression to health authorities about certain products' efficacy and safety.
The investigation focuses on Copaxone, Teva's multiple sclerosis (搜索) drug, and mirrors an ongoing European Commission process currently under appeal before the European Court of Justice.
Turkey's Competition Authority has opened an investigation against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (搜索) Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) on suspicion that the Israeli company violated local laws and prevented activities by rivals in the local pharmaceutical market. The probe, reported by Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu, marks the authority's first-ever in-depth abuse of dominance investigation into an allegedly anticompetitive patent strategy and disparagement campaign.
The Turkish competition authority concluded a preliminary investigation into whether Teva acted to restrict competition in generic drugs, including by using patent procedures for strategic purposes, and creating a "misleading" impression to health authorities in Ankara about the efficacy and safety of certain products. The investigation was opened against Teva International, its subsidiary Teva Europe, and its subsidiary in Turkey to determine whether the law was violated.
Scope of the Investigation
The investigation is examining whether Teva manipulated patent applications for production methods and drug dosages by making applications after the expiration of the patent protection period, as well as derivative cancellation methods, which could restrict rival companies. Media outlets described as direct mouthpieces of the Erdogan regime noted that Teva is a pharmaceutical company operating worldwide, and that the investigation focuses on actions "that may prevent competitors from entering the market."
For now, the investigation does not result in sanctions being imposed on the pharmaceutical company operating in the country.
Teva's Response
Teva said: "The Turkish Competition Authority's investigation concerns a past antitrust issue related to the drug Copaxone, similar to the process being conducted by the European Commission, which is currently under appeal before the European Court of Justice, and in which Teva rejects any claim of misconduct on its part. This is an investigative process, and we will cooperate with the authorities throughout the process."
Corporate Presence in Turkey
Teva is one of few Israeli companies still operating in Turkey due to the trade embargo on Israel. The pharmaceutical company's headquarters is in Istanbul, and it also operates a commercial activity center for marketing drugs, alongside collaborations with local organizations to improve access to medical care.