The Competition Council sanctioned five pharmaceutical companies supplying immunoglobulins and other human plasma-derived drugs, as well as the representative association of the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) (Belgium) with fines worth a total of 353.4 million lei (approximately 71 million euros).According to a press release sent on last Tuesday, the sanctioned companies are: Baxalta Gmbh, Switzerland - 109 million lei; CSL Behring Gmbh, Germany - 76.8 million lei; Biotest AG, Germany - 25.5 million lei; Kedrion Spa, Italy -16.1 million lei; Octapharma AG, Switzerland - 125.1 million lei; PPTA, Belgium: 375,521 lei.Following the investigations, launched in 2018, the competition authority found that, in the period 2015-2018, the five companies adopted a coordinated strategy, which aimed at limiting and even interrupting the supply to the Romanian market with immunoglobulins, in order to exert pressure on the authorities to suspend the clawback tax for medicines derived from human blood or human plasma. This way, the companies aimed to create a commercial advantage, namely the improvement of profit margins.The PPTA facilitated these anti-competitive practices and contributed through its own actions to the achievement of the common goal, thereby going beyond the scope of specific activities at the level of an association in order to influence the legislative process.Lack of access to immunoglobulins, as essential medicines for the treatment of multiple serious illnesses, has endangered the lives of patients and led authorities to take crisis measures to provide patients with the necessary medicines, by accessing the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which indicates, by default, the magnitude of the gravity of the situation generated on the national market.The decision of the Competition Authority, which will be published in a non-confidential manner on the institution's Website, can be appealed to the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
Romanian director Radu Jude has won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay for Kontinental '25 at this year's Berlin International Film Festival/ Berlinale. Kontinental '25 is Jude’s third film awarded in Berlinale’s main competition, after Aferim!, which earned...
With nearly 1,300 real estate transactions in 2024, the company tripled its sales volume compared to 2023. The total value of real estate transactions reached EUR 146 million in 2024. There were 114 transactions in January 2025, double the number in January 2024. With a total of almost 1,300 real estate transactions, North Bucharest Investments […]
Forvis Mazars Group, the international audit, tax and advisory services partnership, releases today its annual CEE M&A report, prepared in association with Mergermarket. It reveals that dealmaking in the CEE region suffered a decline in overall deal value, although a marginal rise in deal volume shows the market’s underlying robustness. The Investing in CEE: Inbound […]
With a total of almost 1,300 real estate transactions, North Bucharest Investments (NBI) managed to triple its sales volume compared to 2023, and the total value of transactions reached €146 million in 2024. This amount reflects an increase of 133% compared to the previous year and consolidates the company's leading position on the real estate […]
French president Emmanuel Macron said that Russia manipulated elections in Romania and that the cancellation of last year's presidential elections did not shock him as a result of that intervention. Macron made the comments during a session of questions from users on social media regarding the situation in Ukraine. Over one hour, he...
Romania’s Ministry of Education released the latest edition of the National Metaranking, identifying the top universities in the country. The ranking has undergone minor changes compared to last year’s edition or the last independent metaranking published in the fall by academic experts. The Transilvania University of Brașov has entered the top 5 universities in Romania, […]
