CSL Of Australia Accused Of Collusion By U.S. Regulator
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Australia's CSL is being blocked in its attempt to buy U.S.-based Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings in part because of alleged price manipulation in collusion with another company. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has filed documents in court to back its case against allowing the CSL-Talecris merger. A U.S. district court judge issued a temporary restraining order against CSL's $3.1 billion acquisition of Talecris, a rival in the blood plasma market. According to the FTC filings, CSL and others have been under investigation for the past eight months as the agency probed irregularities. Among FTC allegations is collusion by many drug companies to monitor competitive information to help restrain output and keep prices up. CSL says it has not engaged in a conspiracy and that its prices are influenced by market factors. (Click here for more