GSK appeals UK pay-for-delay fine

Genéricos/Novedades | Posted 27/05/2016 post-comment0 Post your comment

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is appealing a GBP 37.6 million fine from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over pay-for-delay allegations.

Pay for Delay DrugsMoneyGeneric V13F21

The CMA fined GSK in February 2016 for anticompetitive conduct and agreements in relation to the supply of paroxetine. The case concerns agreements made between 2001 and 2004 in which GSK, the supplier of the brand-name antidepressant drug Seroxat (paroxetine), agreed to make payments and other value transfers totalling over GBP 50 million to suppliers of paroxetine generics [1].

The CMA believes that GSK’s conduct restricted competition and delayed generics competition, costing the UK’s National Health Service GBP 90 million in 2001 alone [1]. GSK, however, is contending this decision, saying that the GSK contends that ‘the CMA erred in finding that GSK held a dominant position because it incorrectly defined the relevant product market as the market in a single molecule (paroxetine)’, and adding that the company’s conduct was ‘objectively justified’.

The generics companies involved include Alpharma, Generics (UK) (GUK) and Norton Healthcare, which was trading as Ivax Pharmaceuticals UK at the time.

GSK argues that ‘the CMA erred in finding that GSK’s conduct had the likely effect of restricting competition’ and contends that ‘the CMA erred in imposing any fine on GSK’. The drugmaker then requests that the Competition Appeal Tribunal set aside the decisions made by the CMA or, alternatively, annul or substantially reduce the fine imposed and order the CMA to pay the costs incurred by GSK in this appeal.

Related articles
Pay-for-delay bill reintroduced

US pay-for-delay deals decrease in 2013

EU problematic patent settlements stabilize

Reference
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. UK’s competition authority fines GSK for pay-for-delay [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 May 27]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Policies-Legislation/UK-s-competition-authority-fines-GSK-for-pay-for-delay

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2016 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.

Source: UK Competition Appeal Tribunal

comment icon Comments (0)
Post your comment
Most viewed articles
Sobre GaBI
INICIO/Sobre GaBI Posted 06/08/2009
EU guidelines for biosimilars
EMA logo 1 V13C15
INICIO/Directrices Posted 08/10/2010