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.
AmCham Romania, the business association gathering 600 American, international, and Romanian companies, has called for "responsibility and dialogue, essential to prevent an irreversible decline in investor confidence in Romania." The call comes "in the context of economic turbulence built up over the years and amplified to a worrying level by the prolonged electoral period." "Romania's […]
1664 Blanc, the super-premium French beer known for its elegant taste and unforgettable style, is capturing the attention of Romanian consumers with a refreshed presence: a bold spirit that celebrates the courage to live with style and that unmistakable Oh là là — now also available in a 0.5L can. This new packaging targets the […]
Romania and the Netherlands will establish a joint center for training Ukrainian technical personnel for F-16 fighter jets at the Fetești Air Base, in southern Romania. The new center was announced by Dutch defense minister Ruben Brekelmans, in a social media post. "The Netherlands and Romania are training F-16 pilots for Ukraine and Romania. We […]
“It is always a good time to invest in ourselves. Inner clarity becomes outer confidence. What we cultivate within becomes the energy we carry into the room”, says Diana Iosu, as she creates DiFine your Essence, a new personal, professional and spiritual development event. After two decades in A-list corporations, Diana Iosu has chosen the […]
Romanian presidential candidates George Simion and Nicuşor Dan presented contrasting visions for the future government in the run-up to the decisive second electoral round, News.ro reported on May 8. While Simion called...
World-renowned astronauts Yi So-yeon and Daniel Michio Tani will attend the third edition of SpaceFEST, an event organized by Bucharest’s Politehnica University dedicated to the importance of spatial exploration, and potential jobs in the domain. SpaceFEST, which takes place from Friday, May 9, to Sunday, May 11, on the Politehnica campus, is organized by Politehnica, […]
