The EU competition enforcer's 2009 inquiry into the sector showed that so-called pay-for-delay deals cost European consumers billions of euros. Teva, the world's biggest generic drugmaker, reached the deal with Cephalon as part of a settlement to end a lawsuit over alleged infringement of Cephalon's patents on the blockbuster drug. This involved cash payments from Cephalon, which Teva later acquired in 2011. The Commission said the deal may have pushed up prices of the drug, modafinil. "The patent settlement agreement between Cephalon and Teva may have caused substantial harm to EU patients and health service budgets," the EU competition enforcer said in a statement. Teva said it strongly disagreed with the Commission's analysis on such deals. "We do not believe that Cephalon and Teva entered into any anti-competitive behavior," the company said.