(LONDON) - Anglo-Swedish drugs giant AstraZeneca and British peer GlaxoSmithKline said Wednesday they had been approached by EU regulators as part of an antitrust probe into the pharmaceutical sector.

In Paris, Sanofi-Aventis said it too had been visited by the regulators and was cooperating with them in connection with the investigation.

Earlier Wednesday, the European Commission said it had launched the probe amid concerns about uncompetitive behaviour in the drugs industry.

"We confirm that we are part of a sector inquiry instituted by the European Commission on 15 January 2008 into aspects of the pharmaceutical industry," AstraZeneca said in a statement, adding it was cooperating fully with the probe.

"The inquiry relates to the introduction of innovative and generic medicines for human consumption onto the market and covers commercial practices, including the use of patents.

"We understand that several companies have been similarly approached in connection with the inquiry," AstraZeneca added.

A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline said the British group had also been visited by EU regulators as part of the investigation.

"We have been contacted by them," the GSK spokesman said.

"I cannot say the date or which site or where but we can confirm we have been visited by them."

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