EU Commission starts pharma sector inquiry with unannounced inspections

In response to possible antitrust concerns, the European Commission has launched an inquiry into competition in the pharmaceuticals sector (under Article 17 of Regulation 1/2003), and is conducting inspections at the premises of a number of research-based and generic drugmakers. The investigation follows indications that competition in pharmaceutical markets in the European Union may not be working well: fewer new medicines are being brought to market, and the entry of generic drugs sometimes seems to be delayed, noted the EC.