(Finance) – The European Commission he inflicted one fine of 13.4 million euros to Alkaloids of Australia, Alkaloids Corporation, Boehringer, Linnea and Transo-Pharm for participating in a sign concerning an important pharmaceutical ingredient. C2 PHARMA was not fined since it disclosed the cartel to the EU Commission. All six companies admitted their involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case, it said in a statement.
The product affected by the cartel is N-butylbromide scopolamine/hyoscine (SNBB), a important input material for the production of the abdominal antispasmodic drug Buscopan and its generic versions.
The Commission’s investigation revealed that the six companies they coordinated and agreed to set the minimum price to sell the SNBB to customers (distributors and manufacturers of generic drugs) and to divide the quotas. Furthermore, the companies exchanged commercially sensitive information.
And the first time that the Commission sanctions a cartel in the pharmaceutical sector and in relation to an active pharmaceutical ingredient.
As part of this investigation, the Commission opened proceedings against a seventh company, Alchem, who decided not to solve the case. Alchem is therefore not covered by this decision and the investigation will continue according to the standard cartel procedure.