Top European court avoids drug case

LUXEMBOURG, June 1 (UPI) -- Europe's highest court says it lacks authority to mediate a dispute over the flow of drugs made in low-cost nations and sent to higher-cost nations.

The European Court of Justice's decision followed an appeal by a pharmaceutical company seeking legal relief from low-cost competitors, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

The court, which said Tuesday it couldn't rule on a case between GlaxoSmithKline and Greek drug wholesalers because the Greek regulator is not a court or tribunal, sent the case back to Greece's competition commission.

That panel is expected to rule no later than early 2006.