The Japan unit of US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson and a Tokyo-based firm selling medical products were searched by the country’s antitrust watchdog over potential violations of the antimonopoly law, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission suspects Johnson & Johnson K.K. and ASP Japan of obstructing competitors’ sales of cleaners and disinfectants for endoscopes.
Related: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson Settle High-Profile Remicade Antitrust Suit
ASP Japan said on its website that it was formerly under Johnson & Johnson until 2019 and specializes in infection prevention technology.
According to the sources, the companies allegedly required that only their disinfectants be used in endoscope cleaners that their trading partners produce. They are also believed to have created equipment maintenance contracts with hospitals that stipulate using their disinfectants.
The commission said it is looking into possible obstruction of trading and forced buying of tie-in products. Japan’s antimonopoly law bans both practices.
Featured News
Uruguayan Antitrust Scrutiny Puts Major Meatpacking Deal Between Marfrig and Minerva on Hold
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Alaska Airlines Seeks Dismissal of Consumer Lawsuit Over $1.9 Billion Hawaiian Airlines Buy
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Idaho Attorney General Orders Split of Kootenai Health and Syringa Hospital
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Court Rejects T-Mobile’s Appeal Bid in Antitrust Case Over Sprint Merger
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Google Requests Judge, Not Jury, to Decide on Antitrust Case
May 19, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Mapping Antitrust onto Digital Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystems and Competition Law: A Law and Political Economy Approach
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystem Theories of Harm: What is Beyond the Buzzword?
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Open Ecosystems: Benefits, Challenges, and Implications for Antitrust
May 9, 2024 by
CPI