Pharma Mergers: FTC Should Consider Monitoring R&D, Assessing PBM Contracts, Experts Advise

Panelists at FTC/DOJ workshop suggest new remedies to ensure pharma mergers are not anti-competitive. The commission should support scientists and ensure R&D continues, one expert says.

M&A
Pharmaceutical mergers may face new hurdles in getting US FTC clearance • Source: Shutterstock

The US Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice should look at the past conduct of pharma companies seeking to merge, including their contracts with pharmacy benefit managers, and monitor the outcome of a merger on research and development, experts advised the agencies.

In the first day of a virtual two-day workshop on pharmaceutical mergers, panelists discussed factors the FTC should consider in analyzing mergers beyond traditional concerns about horizontal overlaps, and

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