The CMA has secured an offer of £23m from Vifor Pharma to the NHS, as part of a wider package, to address concerns that doctors were given potentially misleading information
The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) investigation, which launched earlier this year, considered whether Vifor Pharma – which makes the intravenous iron deficiency treatment Ferinject – had restricted competition by spreading misinformation to healthcare professionals about the safety of a rival treatment, Monofer, supplied by Pharmacosmos.
Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells.
The CMA’s investigation focused on intravenous iron treatments, typically prescribed where oral medicine is not suitable – such as treating patients with long term health conditions or before undergoing major surgery.
Vifor Pharma has agreed to quickly address the CMA’s competition concerns and offer a number of commitments which the CMA will now consult on. These include:
If accepted, the commitments will become legally binding and will mean that it is not necessary for the CMA to decide whether Vifor Pharma broke competition law – allowing the investigation to conclude swiftly, so that the benefits can be felt sooner.
Juliette Enser, Executive Director for Competition Enforcement, said:
This is the first time a misleading claims case of this nature has been investigated by the CMA under its competition law enforcement powers. The CMA has taken on several cases in the pharmaceutical sector to protect and deliver significant savings for the NHS – in total, it has imposed large fines in the region of £400m.
The CMA will now consult on the proposed commitments until 17 January 2025, when its consultation closes. The CMA is required to consult interested parties before accepting commitments which it considers address its competition concerns.
For more information, visit the Vifor Pharma investigation page.
Notes to Editors