Turkey’s Competition Board has officially launched an investigation into global biopharmaceutical company Teva to assess whether the firm violated Article 6 of Act No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition, which prohibits the abuse of a dominant position. The investigation targets the economic entity comprising Teva İlaçları San. ve Tic. AŞ, Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe B.V., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., formalizing concerns that arose during a preliminary inquiry into strategies allegedly designed to delay generic drug market entry.
The regulatory probe centers on allegations that Teva engaged in practices intended to restrict competition from generic medicines after the expiration of its primary molecule patents. Specifically, the Competition Board is investigating Teva’s tactical use of divisional patent applications regarding manufacturing processes and dosage regimens, as well as subsequent patent withdrawal practices. Regulators are examining whether these actions, combined with claims made before healthcare authorities regarding the efficacy and safety of competing products, created a misleading impression that unfairly hindered generic alternatives.
Teva maintains a prominent global position in the biopharmaceutical sector, building on over a decade of development in specialized fields such as neuroscience and immunology. The company operates a dual model, driving scientific innovation through a pipeline of novel therapies and biosimilars while leveraging a established worldwide generics infrastructure. Through legacy capabilities and strategic partnerships, Teva develops and delivers complex medications aimed at meeting global patient needs.
Despite Teva’s established role in expanding access to affordable generics and advanced treatments, the Turkish Competition Board’s investigation seeks to ensure that intellectual property and patent management strategies do not cross into anti-competitive behavior. The inquiry will assess whether Teva’s operational practices after basic patent expirations effectively blocked market entry for competitors, directly impacting market dynamics within the pharmaceutical landscape.
