GlaxoSmithKline has been fined £37.6m by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) for anti-competitive behaviour in relation to its antidepressant Seroxat. The CMA said the pharmaceutical firm had paid generic drug makers over £50m between 2000 and 2004 in return for them delaying the launch of cheaper versions of the drug. GSK said it did not accept the CMA’s ruling and that its actions had saved the NHS money. The group is considering an appeal. The generic drug makers involved, Generics UK (GUK) and Alpharma, were also fined, bringing the total penalties imposed to £45m. GUK’s former parent Merck was fined £5.8m and further penalties of £1.5m were imposed on Alpharma and its parent Actavis. In the UK, 4.2m prescriptions were issued for Seroxat in 2001 and sales exceeded £90m in 2000.
GlaxoSmithKline has been fined £37.6m by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) for anti-competitive behaviour in relation to its antidepressant Seroxat. The CMA said the pharmaceutical firm had paid generic drug makers over £50m between 2001 and 2004 in return for them delaying the launch of cheaper versions of the drug. GSK said it did not accept the CMA’s ruling and that its actions had saved the NHS money. The group is considering an appeal. The generic drug makers involved, Generics UK (GUK) and Alpharma, were also fined, bringing the total penalties imposed to £45m. GUK’s former parent Merck was fined £5.8m and further penalties of £1.5m were imposed on Alpharma and its parent Actavis. In the UK, 4.2m prescriptions were issued for Seroxat in 2000 and sales exceeded £90m in 2001.