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Italy: Pharma cartel investigated for knocking cheaper drug off shelves

By  |  February 21, 2013

Italian antitrust authorities are suspecting drug giants Novartis and Roche of a cartel and have launched an investigation into the matter, according to reports. The Italian Competition Authority is looking into whether the companies colluded to keep a drug off the shelves to leave space for a more expensive drug. Reports say the companies worked to keep Avastin, a drug to tread wet age related macular degeneration, off shelves to promote Lucentis, a more expensive but approved drug. Two complaints over the matter were filed to authorities by a private healthcare association and the Italian Opthalmological Society. The two companies in question are based in Switzerland.

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