EU antitrust regulators are set to fine drugmakers Johnson & Johnson and Novartis next month for blocking the sale of a cheaper generic painkiller in the Netherlands, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. "The European Commission is likely to issue a decision next month," one of the people said.In its charge sheet sent to the companies in January, the European Union competition watchdog said the so-called "pay-for-delay" deal against the generic versions of fentanyl hurt Dutch consumers and healthcare providers.Commission spokesman for competition policy, Antoine Colombani, declined to comment. Johnson & Johnson and Novartis were not immediately available for comment.
Johnson & Johnson is a holding company. The Company is engaged in the research and development, manufacture and sale of a broad range of products in the health care field. Shares of JNJ remained unchanged at $95.20. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $68.60 and as high as $95.75. On average, 7503900 shares of JNJ exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 300.
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