Press Release: Antitrust: Commission welcomes improved market entry for lung disease treatments

The European Commission has closed an antitrust investigation into allegations by Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall that the German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim had filed for unmeritous patents regarding new treatments of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Commission investigation concerned the alleged misuse of the patent system in order to exclude potential competition in the area of COPD, in breach of EU antitrust rules. As Boehringer agreed to remove the alleged blocking positions, this lifts the obstacles to the launch of Almirall's products and the Commission no longer needs to pursue the case.