A PYMNTS Company

UK Tribunal Upholds Fine For Pay For Delay Pharma Deals

By  |  May 10, 2021

The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal has upheld the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decision that GlaxoSmithKline and some generic suppliers of the anti-depressant paroxetine broke competition law. The Competition Appeal Tribunal (Tribunal) has, however, imposed reduced fines of £27.1 million (US$38.26 million) on the firms involved.

    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.

    Paroxetine is relied on by patients to relieve symptoms of depression. GlaxoSmithKline had agreed to make payments totalling £50 million (US$70.59 million) to other generic suppliers of paroxetine, including Generics Limited and Alpharma Limited, in settlement of patent litigation.

    In a decision issued in 2016, the CMA found that these payments were aimed at delaying the potential entry of these competitors supplying generic medicines into the UK market and were unlawful. The CMA imposed fines totalling £44.99 million (US$63.52 million) on the companies directly involved in the infringements – and, where relevant, on their parent companies or successors to these companies.

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.