The European Commission has initiated a formal antitrust investigation into Zoetis, a global animal health company, over concerns that it may have engaged in exclusionary behavior by halting the development and market launch of a competing pain relief medicine for dogs suffering from osteoarthritis. Zoetis, known for its monoclonal antibody medicine Librela, is being scrutinized for potentially abusing its dominant position in the market, which could violate Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement. The investigation was triggered by a complaint from Virbac, a French animal health company, and involves the alleged termination of a pipeline product that was set to be commercialized by a third party in the European Economic Area (EEA). The Commission's inquiry, which is the first of its kind related to the exclusionary termination of a pipeline product, aims to determine if Zoetis' actions restricted competition and impeded market access for alternative pain relief options for dogs.