Pharmaceutical conglomerate Merck has been issued a fine of $1.8 million by Brazilian antitrust authorities for engaging in pay-for-delay agreements.
Antitrust regulator CADE lodged the fine in response to Merck’s attendance at a meeting joined by top rivals Bayer, Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Roche and more, say reports. The meeting allowed the companies to discuss paying generic drug makers to keep their competing products off pharmacy shelves, CADE found.
CADE also said that the other pharmaceutical companies were already fined years ago.
Merck argued that there was a lack of evidence in CADE’s decision and that it didn’t even sell generic drugs in Brazil until 2 years ago, after the meeting had occurred. Merck said it may appeal the ruling.
Full content: Fierce Pharma
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Mexico Moves Forward with Reform to Eliminate Key Regulators, Including Competition Watchdog
Aug 23, 2024 by
CPI
DOJ Sues RealPage for Alleged Rent-Fixing Scheme Using AI Software
Aug 23, 2024 by
CPI
Advance Auto Parts to Offload Worldpac for $1.5 Billion
Aug 22, 2024 by
CPI
Bronfman Ups Ante to $6 Billion in Paramount Battle, Skydance Deal at Risk
Aug 22, 2024 by
CPI
Google and California Strike Historic Deal to Fund Newsrooms Amid Controversy
Aug 22, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – State Attorneys General
Aug 22, 2024 by
CPI
CPI Talks… …With Attorney General Phil Weiser
Aug 22, 2024 by
CPI
The Bipartisan Miracle of State Antitrust Enforcement
Aug 22, 2024 by
Gwendolyn J. Lindsay Cooley
Recent Developments in State Antitrust Enforcement: Agriculture and Food Markets
Aug 22, 2024 by
Elizabeth R. Odette
State Attorneys General: Stewards of Consumer Health and Welfare
Aug 22, 2024 by
Brooke Howlett Lovrovich