Edwards Lifesciences scraps anti-copycat policy, EU drops antitrust investigation

Core Viewpoint - Edwards Lifesciences has eliminated its anti-copycat policy, leading to the closure of an EU antitrust investigation against the company [1]. Group 1: Company Actions - Edwards Lifesciences has withdrawn its Global Unilateral Pro-Innovation (Anti-Copycatting) Policy (UPIP), which was previously a point of contention with Indian rival Meril [1]. - The European Commission confirmed that the removal of the UPIP from the company's website indicates that the concerns regarding market power abuse have been addressed [1]. Group 2: Regulatory Context - The European Commission had conducted an investigation into Edwards Lifesciences after a complaint from Meril, which alleged that the company was abusing its market position [1]. - The Commission's investigation included a raid on one of Edwards Lifesciences' facilities in September 2023 [1]. - The closure of the investigation means that further action is not considered a priority at the EU level [1].