Published: June 2021

More can be done to protect consumers and patients during pharmaceutical mergers

Coalition: Coalition to Protect Patient Choice

The pharmaceutical industry has become increasingly concentrated in recent years, often resulting in higher prices and reduced choice for consumers. Increasing evidence shows that consumers are paying higher prices for prescription drugs and losing out on access and choice because of less innovation by drug companies. Advocates argue that the Federal Trade Commission’s current approach to monitoring pharmaceutical mergers, and its historically pro-merger policy, fails to fully protect American consumers and patients.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) needs to change the way it investigates pharmaceutical mergers. Despite a wide range of concerns about anticompetitive abuses, the FTC has primarily pursued a pro-merger policy when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry. This pro-merger approach is not sensible given the current drug-price crisis in the United States. Coalition members argue in public comments that the FTC has done a poor job over the years, with lax merger enforcement, and, as a result, pharmaceutical manufacturer consolidation has led to higher prices and less innovation for consumers and patients.

Other Organizations

Families USA
 | Public Interest Research Group | 
Service Employees International Union
 | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees | Consumer Action | 
Alliance for Retired Americans | 
Doctors for America
 | Social Security Works
 | Treatment Action Group

More Information

The Law Offices of David A. Balto provides counsel to companies on a broad range of antitrust matters and frequently represents parties before the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, Congress and state legislatures. 

http://www.dcantitrustlaw.com/

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More can be done to protect consumers and patients during pharmaceutical mergers   (Public_comment_to_FTC_re_Pharma.dabfinal_.pdf)