South Africa: Pfizer denies over-charging for cancer drugs

US drugmaker Pfizer has denied allegations it overcharged for cancer medicines in South Africa following an investigation launched on Tuesday by the country’s competition watchdog into three drug companies.

The Competition Commission said it would investigate Aspen Pharmacare, Africa’s biggest generic drugmaker, Pfizer and Swiss-based Roche Holding on suspicion of charging too much for cancer medicines.

Pfizer denied it supplied its lung cancer product at the alleged price of ZAR152,000(US$11,800) and said it would cooperate fully with the investigation.

“We await the opportunity to be contacted by the Commission to clarify the pricing for this product,” it said in a statement.

The Commission said it had information that suggested Pfizer’s lung cancer treatment cost approximately US$12,000 for 250 mg when bought through an agent.

Aspen, a local company based in Durban, has also denied any wrongdoing, saying it had not increased its prices for medicines used to treat leukaemia beyond the margin approved by the South African health department.

Full Content: Reuters

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