FTC considering changes to regulation of biopharma mergers
Upcoming workshop, culmination of 15-month investigation, could pave way for new theories of harm
The FTC is convening a workshop June 14-15 to review academic research and proposals for “proactive antitrust enforcement” targeting drug companies, including calls to aggressively police widespread life sciences M&A practices.
The agency is considering adopting new doctrines that would give it power to block life sciences M&A that it believes could inhibit innovation. The FTC has solicited comments on theories that could lead it to routinely review, and in some cases block, large pharma company acquisitions of smaller biotechs that have become integral to the biopharma ecosystem in recent decades. It is also considering expanding the basis for regulating M&A to include anticompetitive actions by companies that are unrelated to the transaction under review. ...