The General Court's judgment in AstraZeneca v. European Commission must be seen in the context of the commission's ongoing inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector, which began in 2008.

From the outset, it has been clear that the commission will scrutinize closely any conduct capable of hindering competition from generic products.

“Generics are seen as the key to reducing public expenditures on medicines, and the court's judgment appears to support this policy objective,” says Joanna Goyder, a barrister at Freshfields.

“The judgment is likely to embolden the commission to take stricter action in relation to unilateral conduct by the innovative pharmaceutical sector,” says David Marks, a partner at CMS Cameron McKenna.

The General Court's judgment in AstraZeneca v. European Commission must be seen in the context of the commission's ongoing inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector, which began in 2008.

From the outset, it has been clear that the commission will scrutinize closely any conduct capable of hindering competition from generic products.

“Generics are seen as the key to reducing public expenditures on medicines, and the court's judgment appears to support this policy objective,” says Joanna Goyder, a barrister at Freshfields.

“The judgment is likely to embolden the commission to take stricter action in relation to unilateral conduct by the innovative pharmaceutical sector,” says David Marks, a partner at CMS Cameron McKenna.