Zerbor Italy’s antitrust authority announced an investigation into companies, including Roche ( OTCQX:RHHBY )- owned Genentech and Novartis ( NYSE: NVS ), on Thursday over allegations of delaying market access to a biosimilar version of the eye care therapy Lucentis. According to the regulator, the duo, along with Korean drugmaker Samsung Bioepis, U.S.
biotech Biogen ( BIIB ), and some of their Italian, Dutch, and U.K. units, coordinated commercial strategies to delay the market entry of Lucentis biosimilar Byooviz in Italy.
Lucentis, indicated for eye disorders, including wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, is developed by Genentech and marketed by Novartis ( NVS ) in Italy and other countries outside the U.S. The alleged delay in launching Byooviz, which was developed and sold by Samsung Bioepis, may have affected drug prices and availability for patients and prevented potential savings for Italian national health services, the Italian Competition Authority, AGCM, said.
In an emailed statement to Reuters , a Novartis ( OTCPK:NVSEF ) spokeswoman said the company is cooperating with the investigation and providing the required information to authorities. Roche ( OTCQX:RHHBF ) said it wouldn’t comment on potential or ongoing regulatory or legal investigations. Samsung Bioepis and Biogen ( BIIB ) were not immediately available for comments.
More on Novartis, Roche, etc. Novartis AG (NVS) Investor Event at ASCO Conference Call (Transcript) Novartis.
