US, EU and UK Antitrust Enforcers Form Pharma Monitoring Taskforce

AZ’s planned Alexion acquisition may be an early target

Antitrust regulators in the US, Europe and elsewhere say they will now collaborate on how to best assess pharmaceutical mergers, in a move that could restrict deals on grounds they excessively raise prices paid by consumers or dampen medical innovation. 

Competition Law
Aim is to identify ways to scrutinize Pharma deals more closely • Source: Shutterstock

AstraZeneca PLC’s proposed acquisition of Alexion could become the first test balloon for the newly announced international taskforce that anti-trust regulators in the US, Europe and the UK hope can curb M&A deals that threaten competition and restrict innovation in the medical field, analysts said.

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Business

Pharma Predicts Modest Impact From Tariffs, But It Depends On What Comes Next

 

Drugmakers aren’t expecting a big financial hit from tariffs for now, but a report commissioned by PhRMA suggests the cost of pharma-sector tariffs could be steep.

OPPI’s Matai On Section 3(d) Of India’s Patent Regulations: Now’s The Time To Open Up

 

Anil Matai, director general, Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India, talks in this audio interview about the evolving intellectual property landscape in India post the 2024 amendments, including long-standing sticking points such as Section 3(d) of India’s patent regulations and innovator firms' experience of the Bolar provision. There’s also a "compelling reason" to consider regulatory data protection, he claims.

In Brief: Sanofi Gains €10bn From Opella Sale

 

Sanofi sold a 50% stake in consumer health unit Opella for €10bn, backing its shift to prescription drugs and funding a €5bn buyback.

Finance Watch: Biohaven Gains Up To $600m In Fresh Capital

 
• By 

Public Company Edition: Biohaven secured $250m up front from Oberland Capital to support its future US troriluzole launch after pulling its EU filing. Also, Procaps arranged $130m in private equity and Rezolute grossed $96.9m in a rare follow-on offering, among other financings.

More from Scrip

Finance Watch: Biohaven Gains Up To $600m In Fresh Capital

 
• By 

Public Company Edition: Biohaven secured $250m up front from Oberland Capital to support its future US troriluzole launch after pulling its EU filing. Also, Procaps arranged $130m in private equity and Rezolute grossed $96.9m in a rare follow-on offering, among other financings.

Lilly’s Ricks Urges Trump To Pick Tax Incentives Over Tariffs

 

On Lilly’s Q1 earnings call, CEO David Ricks voiced concerns about the Trump Administration’s tariff policy, which he said could adversely affect Lilly and the industry as a whole.

Merck & Co. CMO Barr On Breaking Into Immunology And Ophthalmology

 

Chief medical officer Eliav Barr discussed Merck’s investment in new therapeutic areas and business development in an interview with Scrip.