Pharmaceutical companies fined for breaking competition laws
Following an investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that four pharmaceutical companies broke competition law in relation to the supply of an antidepressant.
The probe by the CMA into the supply of nortriptyline, a drug relied on by thousands of patients every day to relieve symptoms of depression, has resulted in fines totalling more than £3.4m, and payment of £1m directly to the NHS.
A spokesman for CMA said the investigation exposed two breaches of competition law; one of market sharing and one of information exchange.
It found that, rather than competing, King Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Auden Mckenzie (Pharma Division) Ltd shared out between them the supply of nortriptyline to a large pharmaceutical wholesaler.
From September 2014 to May 2015, the two companies agreed that King would supply only 25mg and Auden Mckenzie only 10mg tablets. The two firms also colluded to fix quantities and prices.
King and Auden Mckenzie have now admitted breaking the law. After this market sharing ended, Accord-UK Ltd took control of Auden Mckenzie’s nortriptyline business, and so the CMA holds it responsible for Auden’s illegal conduct.
As a result, the CMA has fined King and Accord-UK £75,573 and £1,882,238 respectively. On top of this, Accord-UK and Auden Mckenzie have agreed to make a £1 million payment to the NHS in connection with the case. It is the second time the CMA has secured payment to the NHS following one of its pharmaceutical investigations.
The CMA is also fining King, Lexon (UK) Ltd and Alissa Healthcare Research Ltd for illegally sharing commercially sensitive information, to try to keep nortriptyline prices up.
Between 2015 and 2017, when the cost of the drug was falling, the three suppliers exchanged information about prices, the volumes they were supplying, and Alissa’s plans to enter the market.
In September 2019, King and Alissa both admitted to breaking the law, and they are being fined £75,573 and £174,912 respectively. Lexon did not admit to breaking the law and is being fined a total of £1,220,383.
Andrea Coscelli, chief executive at the CMA, said: ‘These firms exchanged sensitive information and shared out supply to try and keep prices up, meaning the NHS, and ultimately the UK taxpayer, could have been paying over the odds for this vital drug.
‘That’s why we’ve worked hard to secure £3.4m in fines and another payout for the NHS.
‘Today’s decisions should act as a clear warning to any pharmaceutical company that considers stifling competition and cheating the NHS.’
The CMA has also secured the disqualification of Dr Philip Hallwood, a director at King and the sole director of consultancy firm Praze. It said Praze conducted King’s corporate and commercial services during the illegal activity and took part in this alongside King.
Today’s announcement follows the CMA’s recent launch of its ‘Cheating or Competing?’ campaign, which reminds companies that it’s their business to know which practices are illegal. It also explains why certain practices, like market sharing, are illegal and should be reported, and urges people to come forward if they have information.
