Clearpost.online It's your post, so post it!

BERLIN/ZURICH (Reuters) –     The Swiss co*petition co*mission (co*CO) has opened an investigation of Novartis over possible unlawful use of a patent to reduce co*petitive pressure, the Swiss drugmaker confirmed on Thursday.

co*CO conducted an early morning raid on the co*pany on Sept. 13, it said in a statement that did not name Novartis, which subsequently said in its own statement that it was the group under investigation.

“The co*pany allegedly attempted to protect its drug for the treatment of skin diseases against co*peting products by using one of its patents to initiate litigation proceedings,” co*CO said in a statement.

Novartis said co*CO had started an investigation in collaboration with the European co*mission into the assertion of a patent in the broader field of dermatology treatments.

“In connection with this investigation, co*CO representatives visited the co*pany headquarters in Basel,” it said.

“The opening of an investigation does not imply any finding of wrongdoing or any financial impact. Novartis is fully cooperating with the authorities and is confident to clarify the legitimacy of its position,” it added.

(Writing by Miranda Murray and Michael Shields, editing by John Revill)