Press Release: Antitrust: Commission opens proceedings against Johnson & Johnson and Novartis

The European Commission has opened an antitrust investigation, on its own initiative, to assess whether contractual arrangements between US-based pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson and the generic branches of the Swiss-based company Novartis may have had the object or effect of hindering the entry on to the market of generic versions of Fentanyl in The Netherlands. Fentanyl is a strong pain killer for chronic pain.

The opening of proceedings does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation but means that the Commission will deal with the case as a matter of priority.