Servier to appeal EC fine over perindopril

French privately-held drugmaker Servier has said it will appeal before the European Union Court of Justice the  decision of the European Commission to impose a fine of 331 million euros ($450 million) on Servier and a total amount of 96.7 million euros on the manufacturers of competing generics with regards to patent settlements (or pay-for-delay deals) relating to the company’s blood pressure drug perindopril.

Lucy Vincent, Servier’s spokesperson, emphasised that: “patients have not been deprived of perindopril at any time. Moreover, generic entry has not been delayed. Servier has acted in a transparent and legitimate way to defend its patents, which are essential if we are to continue the development of innovative medicines for the benefit of patients.”

Since the beginning of this investigation and the statement of objections received in July 2012, Servier has fully cooperated with the European Commission. However, Servier strongly disagrees with the unprecedented theory developed in the decision.