Key facts
- The CMA has won permission to appeal a decision against Pfizer.
- The legal battle has lasted for a decade.
- The dispute concerns allegations of excessive pricing for an anti-epilepsy drug.
- The High Court found the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) was wrong to set aside the CMA's original decision.
- The CMA's original decision found Pfizer engaged in unlawful pricing practices.
- The drug in question is Epanutin (phenytoin sodium).
- Pfizer had challenged the CMA's decision at the CAT.
- The CAT had previously set aside the CMA's decision.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has secured permission to appeal a ruling that had previously set aside its decision against pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. This marks a pivotal moment in a legal dispute spanning a decade, concerning allegations of excessive pricing for an anti-epilepsy drug. The High Court found that the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) was incorrect in its decision to overturn the CMA's original conclusion that Pfizer had engaged in unlawful pricing practices.
The protracted legal battle originated from the CMA's finding that Pfizer had charged excessive prices for the anti-epilepsy drug Epanutin (phenytoin sodium). The CMA had determined that Pfizer's pricing was unlawful, leading to a challenge by the company at the CAT. However, the CAT subsequently set aside the CMA's decision, prompting the CMA to seek permission for a further appeal.