site-level initiatives, particularly in Valbonne, where
ergonomic improvements had a strong impact.
Additionally, the global prevention campaign Take
Care reinforced Lundbeck’s commitment to employee
well-being by promoting a healthy and safe work
environment.
2.11 GENERAL CORPORATE MATTERS
Pending legal proceedings
Lundbeck is involved in several legal proceedings,
including patent disputes and environmental matters,
the most significant of which are described below.
Some of these involve significant amounts and are
subject to considerable uncertainty. Management
continuously assesses the risks associated with the
legal proceedings, and their likely outcome.
Management is of the opinion that, apart from items
recognized in the financial statements, the outcome of
these legal proceedings and disputes are not probable
or cannot be reliably estimated in terms of amount or
timing. Further, ongoing proceedings may develop
over time, and new proceedings may occur, in a way
which could have a material impact on the Group’s
financial position and/or cash flows.
In June 2013, Lundbeck received the European
Commission’s decision that agreements concluded
with four generic competitors concerning citalopram
violated competition law. The decision included fining
Lundbeck EUR 93.8 million (approximately DKK 700
million). Lundbeck paid and expensed the fine in the
third quarter of 2013. In March 2021, the European
Court of Justice rejected Lundbeck’s final appeal of the
European Commission’s decision. So-called “follow-
on claims” for reimbursement of alleged losses,
resulting from violation of competition law, often arise
when decisions and fines issued by the European
Commission are upheld by the European Court of
Justice. The below mentioned “follow-on claims” are
ongoing or threatened. Lundbeck disagrees with all
claims and intends to defend itself against them.
At the end of first quarter 2023, the UK health
authorities served their claim form on Lundbeck and
several generic companies, and Lundbeck filed its
defense in the third quarter of 2023. The hearing on
whether the claim is time-barred was held in the
second quarter of 2024 and the Competition Appeal
Tribunal has subsequently issued a decision in favor of
the UK health authorities. Lundbeck was granted
permission to appeal the decision to the Court of
Appeal and the Court of Appeal issued a decision in
favor of the UK health authorities in the second quarter
of 2025. Lundbeck has filed an application for
permission to appeal the time-barring decision to the
Supreme Court with the Courts of Appeal.
In late October 2021, Lundbeck received a writ of
summons from a German health care company
claiming compensation for an alleged loss of profit
plus interest payments, allegedly resulting from
Lundbeck’s conclusion of agreements with two of the
four generic competitors, which were comprised by
the EU Court of Justice ruling. Lundbeck filed its first
defense in May 2022, and the parties have
subsequently exchanged additional pleadings. The
first instance court hearing was held in the second
quarter of 2024, and Lundbeck currently expects a first
instance court ruling in 2025 or 2026. The first instance
court ruling may be appealed, and it make take several
years before a final conclusion is reached by the
German courts.
In October 2024, Lundbeck received a claim form from
the health authority in one of the regions
(comunidades autónomas) in Spain and in November
2024 Lundbeck filed its defense. The first instance
court hearing was held in the second quarter of 2025
and a first instance ruling was issued in the third
quarter of 2025. The court dismissed the health
authority’s claim based on time-barring. The health
authority may appeal the decision.
Lundbeck has been informed about potential claims in
several European countries, however, it is still
uncertain whether the potential claims will be actively
pursued.
In Canada, Lundbeck is involved in two product liability
class-action lawsuits relating to Cipralex
®
/Celexa
®
(one case alleging various Celexa-induced birth
defects and one case against several SSRI
manufacturers (incl. Lundbeck) alleging that SSRI
(Celexa
®
/Lexapro
®
) induces autism birth defect), three
relating to Abilify Maintena
®
(alleging i.a. failure to warn
about compulsive behavior side effects) and one
relating to Rexulti
®
(also alleging i.a. failure to warn
about compulsive behavior side effects). Lundbeck
strongly disagrees with the claims. The Celexa birth