The European Commission has preliminarily concluded that Johnson & Johnson and Novartis violated EU antitrust law by agreeing to delay the introduction of the generic painkiller fentanyl. J&J agreed to make a reverse payment to delay entry of the generic for about 18 months. The commission will conduct additional analysis before reaching a final conclusion.
Commenting on the decision, EC antitrust chief Joaquín Almunia affirmed that the Commission will “fight undue delays in the market entry of generic medicines so that European citizens have access to affordable health care.”