EU Commission finds no evidence against AstraZeneca and Nycomed

The European Commission said yesterday that it has ceased its antitrust investigation into the pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) and Switzerland-based Nycomed, which is now owned by Japanese drug major Takeda (TYO: 4502), saying it found no evidence of illegal deals.

The investigation focused on suspected individual or joint action to delay the market entry of generic medicines. Such behaviour, if established, would have been contrary to European Union antitrust rules that prohibit restrictive business practices and the abuse of a dominant market position (Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU – TFEU).

On November 30, 2010, the Commission launched unannounced inspections at the premises of AstraZeneca, with respect to its now off patent gastrointestinal drug Nexium (esomeprazole) and Nycomed in several member states.