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FTC's Merger Concerns Remain Despite Amgen’s ‘Bare Commitment’ Not To Bundle Horizon Drugs

 
• By Brenda Sandburg

The commission seeks a preliminary injunction by 31 October to block the closing of the proposed Amgen-Horizon merger. Harvard Professor Aaron Kesselheim, FTC’s expert, says Amgen could circumvent a commitment not to bundle its and Horizon's products. The Pfizer-Seagen merger agreement also gets a second request for information.

FTC building
The FTC wants a preliminary injunction to block Amgen's acquisition of Horizon. • Source: Shutterstock

The US Federal Trade Commission doubled down on its efforts to halt the close of Amgen, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics plc until a final decision is made on its administrative complaint opposing the deal, asking a district court to issue a preliminary injunction by 31 October.

In a redacted 14 July memorandum supporting a preliminary injunction, the FTC and six states reiterated that post-merger, Amgen...

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