July 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has

opened an investigation into Teva Pharmaceutical over

the company's refusal to take down about two dozen patents for

its asthma and COPD inhalers, the Washington Post reported on

Monday, citing agency documents.

The FTC last week ordered Teva to provide internal

communications, analysis and financial data related to the

contested patents listed in a federal registry known as the

Orange Book, according to the report.

Teva has to cooperate with the agency's demand by July 24,

the report said.

The FTC did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for

comment.

In a statement to Reuters, Teva said it "believes that its

patents are properly listed in the Orange Book and continues to

stand behind the company's intellectual property," it said.

COPD is the acronym for chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease.