Turkey’s Competition Authority has launched an investigation into Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., an Israeli company, on allegations of antitrust violations within the local pharmaceutical market. The inquiry centers on whether Teva engaged in practices that restricted competition, particularly in the generic drug sector.
According to reports from Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency, the preliminary probe examines claims that Teva may have used patent procedures strategically to hinder rival companies. Specifically, investigators are reviewing whether Teva manipulated patent applications related to production methods and drug dosages, including filing such applications after existing patent protections had expired. The inquiry also looks at accusations that Teva created misleading impressions about the efficacy and safety of certain products to health authorities in Ankara.
The investigation targets Teva International, along with its subsidiaries Teva Europe and Teva Turkey. This move follows concerns that the company’s actions might have prevented competitors from entering the Turkish pharmaceutical market. However, no penalties have been imposed at this stage.
Teva maintains a significant presence in Turkey despite broader trade restrictions affecting Israeli firms. The company’s headquarters in Istanbul oversees marketing operations and collaborates with local organizations aimed at improving medical care access within the country.
The probe reportedly relates to past issues involving Antitrust scrutiny of Teva’s drug Copaxone, paralleling a similar investigation by the European Commission currently under appeal at the European Court of Justice. Teva has categorically denied any wrongdoing and stated it intends to cooperate fully with Turkish authorities throughout the investigation.
Other Israeli companies also operate in Turkey amid continuing political and economic complexities. For instance, ICL, formerly known as Israel Chemicals, runs several sites across multiple countries, including Turkey, where it markets calcium phosphate and industrial cleaning products. Meanwhile, the irrigation firm Netafim—majority-owned by Mexican corporation Orbia with a minority stake held by Kibbutz Hatzerim—manufactures and sells agricultural support products within the Turkish market.
In contrast, some Israeli businesses have ceased operations in Turkey recently. In June, sanitary ware manufacturer Hamat announced the closure of its Turkish subsidiary MCP in Izmir, citing marketing challenges domestically and abroad.
The ongoing investigation into Teva underscores the Turkish authorities’ increasing scrutiny of competition practices in critical sectors like pharmaceuticals, especially regarding multinational companies operating within their jurisdiction.