The troubles for Ranbaxy just got longer with  the European Commission imposing a fine of 10.32 million euros for delaying market entry of cheaper generic versions of the Danish company Lundbeck's branded Citalopram, a popular antidepressant drug. For Ranbaxy the fine by the EC comes on the heels of its agreement with US authorities last month under which it had agreed to pay a fine of $500 million after pleading guilty to 'felony charges' over violation of approved manufacturing norms at its two facilities in the country.

 

According to information available on the European Commission website, Ranbaxy Laboratories has been fined  euro 10.32 million (over Rs 80 crore). Reacting to the fine, Ranbaxy said, " it is disappointed with the decision by the European Commission to rule its patent settlement agreement with Lundbeck, covering the molecule Citalopram, anti-competitive, and intends to appeal to the general court of the European Union."

 

These events took place over ten years ago, and the company considers that the EC has misunderstood the facts and misapplied the law, it said, adding it believed it has strong grounds of appeal, it further said. Citalopram is a blockbuster antidepressant medicine and was Lundbeck's best-selling product at the time. The EC said after Lundbeck's basic patent for the citalopram molecule had expired, it only held a number of related process patents which provided a more limited protection. Producers of cheaper, generic versions of citalopram therefore had the possibility to enter the market.