A PYMNTS Company

EU Antitrust Regulators Accept Vifor Pharma’s Pledge to Halt Disparagement of Rival

By  |  July 22, 2024

EU antitrust regulators have accepted concessions from Vifor Pharma, a unit of the Australian group CSL, addressing potential anti-competitive behavior related to a rival iron deficiency treatment. This decision follows a two-year investigation by the European Commission into Vifor Pharma’s marketing practices.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    According to Reuters, the European Commission launched the investigation after allegations surfaced that Vifor Pharma’s marketing campaign disseminated misleading information about the safety of Monofer, an iron deficiency treatment developed by Danish company Pharmacosmos. Monofer is the closest competitor to Vifor’s Ferinject, a widely used treatment in the same category.

    We’d love to be your preferred source for news.

    Please add us to your preferred sources list so our news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks!

    Add as Preferred Source

    In response to the Commission’s concerns, Vifor Pharma has committed to implementing a comprehensive and multi-channel communication campaign. This initiative aims to rectify and counteract the effects of the potentially misleading messages previously spread about Monofer’s safety. Reuters reports that this move is designed to ensure that healthcare professionals receive accurate information, addressing the misinformation that may have impacted Monofer’s market position.

    The EU competition enforcer stated that Vifor Pharma will refrain from engaging in external promotional and medical communications about Monofer’s safety profile, unless the information is based on Monofer’s official label or derived from clinical trials explicitly comparing Ferinject and Monofer across the entire European Economic Area (EEA). This commitment is set to last for a decade, ensuring long-term compliance and promoting fair competition in the market.

    Reuters reports that the European Commission’s acceptance of Vifor Pharma’s concessions highlights the importance of accurate and truthful marketing practices in the pharmaceutical industry. This case underscores the Commission’s role in safeguarding competition and protecting consumer interests by preventing misleading information that could distort the market.

    Source: Reuters