Following the EU Commission’s pharmaceutical sector report, competition law has become increasingly important to the pharma sector. One of the most debated issues is the practice of patent settlements (a.k.a. “pay for delay” or “reverse payments”), which is reflected by the most recent 3rd Commission report on patents settlements (July 25th, 2012). Even in the US there have been seminal developments on this issue, involving fiercely discussed policy statements by the US president and the FTC, as well as pending litigation at the US Supreme Court. This presentation elaborates on this important topic and present the very latest developments in Europe and the US.

Following the EU Commission’s pharmaceutical sector report, competition law has become increasingly important to the pharma sector. One of the most debated issues is the practice of patent settlements (a.k.a. “pay for delay” or “reverse payments”), which is reflected by the most recent 3rd Commission report on patents settlements (July 25th, 2012). Even in the US there have been seminal developments on this issue, involving fiercely discussed policy statements by the US president and the FTC, as well as pending litigation at the US Supreme Court. This presentation elaborates on this important topic and present the very latest developments in Europe and the US.