Pharmaceutical sector: suspected anti-competitive agreements

The CMA is investigating alleged anti-competitive agreements in the pharmaceutical sector under Chapter I CA98 and Article 101 TFEU (case reference: 50511).

Case timetable

Date Action
7 November 2018 Decision to close the investigation on administrative priority grounds
July 2018 to September 2018 Continuation of initial investigation and information gathering in relation to certain parties and certain other alleged anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices. CMA analysis and review of information gathered
3 July 2018 Decision taken to proceed with investigation into certain alleged anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices and certain parties. The new case pages are 50511-1 and 50511-2
October 2017 to June 2018 Initial investigation and information gathering. CMA analysis and review of information gathered
October 2017 Investigation opened

Change log

The following changes have been made to the case timetable since it was first published in October 2017:

Date of change Reason for change Change made to timetable
3 July 2018 Additional time needed to gather and analyse additional information for certain alleged anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices and certain parties Date for completing initial investigation and information gathering for certain alleged anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices changed from June 2018 to September 2018
3 July 2018 Decision taken to proceed with investigation into certain alleged anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices and certain parties Links to new case pages to the ongoing investigations provided.
19 April 2018 Additional time needed to gather and analyse additional information Date for completing initial investigation and information gathering changed from April 2018 to June 2018

Case information

Case closure statement

The CMA decided on 7 November 2018 to close the remaining aspects of its investigation in Case 50511 on administrative priority grounds.

The reasons for closing the investigation are set out in the CMA’s case closure statement:

Investigation

On 10 October 2017, the CMA launched an investigation under Chapter I of the CA98 and Article 101 of the TFEU into suspected breaches of competition law by various parties. The investigation relates to alleged anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices in relation to generic pharmaceutical products.

The CMA has not reached a view on whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to the parties under investigation. Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections.

Contacts

Assistant Project Directors

Maria Rican-Sevitz (020 3738 6859, maria.rican-sevitz@cma.gov.uk)

Nicholas Scola (020 3738 6931, nicholas.scola@cma.gov.uk)

Project Director

Geoff Steadman (020 3738 6311, geoff.steadman@cma.gov.uk)

Senior Responsible Officer

Ann Pope (020 3738 6786, ann.pope@cma.gov.uk)

Published 13 October 2017
Last updated 15 November 2018 + show all updates
  1. Case closure statement published.

  2. Case timetable updated.

  3. Case timetable updated.

  4. First published.