Antitrust: “Pact to delay the sale of a new eye drug”. 8 pharmaceutical companies in trouble
An investigation has started into possible wrongdoing in the entry onto the market of Byoovuz, a biosimilar drug for the treatment of maculopathies. Inspections in Italy and Holland. Codacons: "Compensation for SNN and citizens"
ROME – Eight pharmaceutical companies in the sights of the Antitrust for possible offenses in the sale of a medicine used for rather widespread eye diseases, such as maculopathy. Inspections were launched in Italy and the Netherlands to ascertain the existence of a possible “cartel” between the eight companies that would have delayed the placing on the market, and therefore the possibility of purchasing, of a biosimilar drug with the active ingredient ranibizumab< /strong>.
The Authority for Competition and the Market (Agcm) explains that an investigation has been started against eight companies for “an agreement restricting competition in the active ingredient market ranibizumab“. The companies in question, the press release states, are Samsung Bioepis co. Ltd., Samsung Bioepis NL B.V., Biogen Inc., Biogen Italia S.r.l., Genentech Inc., >Novartis AG, Novartis Europharm Ltd. and Novartis Farma S.p.A. In particular, it is hypothesized that there is coordination of commercial strategies between these companies to delay the entry into the Italian market of Byooviz (active ingredient ranibizumab), a biosimilar drug developed and marketed by the Samsung Bioepis groups and Biogen. Byooviz is the biosimilar of Lucentis, in turn developed by Genentech and marketed in Italy by the Novartis group. These behaviors, if confirmed, would also reveal the existence of an alteration of competitive dynamics such as to artificially limit competition based on merits.
As the Agcm explains, in the pharmaceutical sector such behaviors delay the entry into the market of a biosimilar drugs competing with the original one cause negative repercussions on possible savings for purchases paid by the National Health Service, as well as prejudice towards patients and taxpayers in terms of the breadth of the offer and lower prices low. In fact, biosimilar drugs are generally marketed at a significantly lower cost than that of their respective originators.
On Tuesday 28 May, Authority officials carried out inspections at the offices of Biogen Italia S.r.l., Novartis Farma S.p.A. and other subjects deemed to be in possession of useful elements for the investigation, with the help of the Special Antitrust Unit of the Guardia di Finanza. At the same time, the Dutch Competition Authority (Autoriteit Consument & Markt) carried out inspections in the Netherlands at the headquarters of Samsung Bioepis NL B.V.
CODACONS: WE WILL PROVIDE COMPENSATIONS FOR CITIZENS AND SSN IF THE OFFENSES CONFIRMED
“If illicit acts are ascertained, Codacons will initiate compensation actions against the responsible pharmaceutical companies, calling them to compensate both citizens and the National Health Service. This was stated by the association, commenting on the investigation opened by the Antitrust on 8 companies for an alleged agreement restricting competition in the market of the active ingredient ranibizumab, intended for the treatment of important eye diseases”. So in a note from Codacons.
“Once again, drugs for eye diseases are at the center of possible crimes that could result in fines in the millions from the Antitrust – explains Codacons – Already in 2014, in fact, the Authority sanctioned over 180 two companies (Roche and Novartis) million for a cartel that had affected the sales of the main products intended for eye care, Avastin and Lucentis“.
“If even this time, conduct detrimental to competition will be ascertained, we will initiate compensation action against all the companies involved, considering that offenses of this type have enormous economic repercussions both on individual patients suffering from eye diseases and on the National Health Service and therefore on the community, calling the companies to compensate all the injured parties and the Italian State”, concludes Codacons.