Edwards Lifesciences' patent practices, anti-copycat policy in EU antitrust crosshair

[admin]

U.S. medical device maker Edwards Lifesciences' patent practices and policy against what it says are copycat devices triggered EU antitrust regulators' dawn raids last month, a person familiar with the matter said. Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic have stepped up their scrutiny into the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that smaller innovative companies can compete with bigger rivals and that prices for drugs and products remain affordable. EU concerns centre on Edwards' patent practices, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.