15
Oct 20
Italian Competition Authority says that the rules on the remuneration of health care services provided by pharmacies are anti-competitive
The Italian Competition Authority once again criticizes the introduction of legislative provisions that reserve only to pharmacies the provision of certain public health services paid by the NHS
9
Jun 20
Italian Competition Authority approves two emergency cooperation projects: one for joint distribution of surgical masks and one common moratorium scheme on consumer lending
On May 27, 2020, for the first time the Italian Competition Authority (“AGCM”) applied its communication on cooperation agreements in the context of the COVID-19 emergency (“Italian Communication”), applicable since April 24, 2020.
5
Feb 20
Who can request authorization to advertise medicines? Answers from the AGCM
The Italian Competition Authority (hereinafter the “AGCM“) recently expressed an opinion and addressed a recommendation to the Ministry of Health (the “Ministry”) regarding the parties entitled to request authorization to advertise medicinal products to the public (resolution No. AS1628 of December 9, 2019
4
Dec 19
Under what circumstances may an incumbent associate with a competitor in a public tender? The ICA provides useful guidance in the field of plasma derivatives.
In January 2018, the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM, or “ICA”) launched an investigation for a possible breach of Article 101 TFEU against two international manufacturers of blood-based pharmaceuticals – Kedrion S.p.A (“Kedrion”) and Grifols Italia S.p.A (“Grifols”) – for participating as a joint venture in a public tender (issued by a contracting authority acting on behalf of a group Italian regions, “Intercent-ER”) to collect blood and plasma, to produce plasma derivatives and to deliver these to the Italian National Health System (NHS).
2
Oct 19
Excessive pricing abuses in the pharmaceuticals sector: complying with a cease-and-desist order. The Italian case of Aspen v AGCM
On 29 September 2016, the Italian Competition Authority (the AGCM or ICA) fined the Aspen Group (Aspen) €5m for a violation of article 102(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
8
Jun 19
The EU Court of Justice holds that colluding to disseminate information constitute a restriction of competition “by object” (Roche / Novartis)
On January 23rd, 2018, the ECJ delivered its preliminary ruling on the Roche/Novartis v. Commission case (C-179/16), concerning the compatibility of an agreement entered into between Roche and Novartis with Article 101 TFEU.
