China investigates competitive conduct in pharma

China plans to launch a large-scale and systematic investigation into drug firms, both foreign and local, reported state newspaper China Daily

The planned probe by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is collecting data to see if any big pharma and other drug firms have violated competition regulations, according to Reuters.

The pharmaceutical industry has been facing more scrutiny in relation to competitive conduct recently.      

Earlier this year GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Generics UK (GUK) and Alpharma were fined  £45m by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for anti-competitive conduct and agreements.

Michael Grenfell, the CMA’s executive director for enforcement, said: “Cracking down on these practices is essential to protect consumers, to encourage legitimate business activity that such practices stifle and to stimulate innovation and growth.”

China’s state planning agency has now summoned Pfizer, as well as a number of distribution companies and medical device manufacturers, to collect data and information on their competitive conduct, reported Reuters.

However, the NDRC did not comment on the situation and a spokesperson from Pfizer informed Reuters that the company did not comment on media speculation or market rumors.