BRACCO-BYK GULDEN ITALIA-FARMADES-NYCOMED AMERSHAM SORIN-SCHERING
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
Investigation of the manufacturers of radiopaque agents
The Competition Authority began an investigation on 25 January of the BRACCO Spa, BYK GULDEN ITALIA Spa, FARMADES Spa, NYCOMED AMERSHAM SORIN srl and SCHERING Spa pharmaceutical companies following a complaint from the Tuscany Local Health Board (Azienda Sanitaria Locale), that all these companies had submitted identical price bids for the supply of non-ionic radiopaque agents for radiological use. Information collected in other Health Boards and hospitals in the Tuscany Region showed that these same non-ionic radiopaque agent manufacturers had also offered to supply their products for substantially identical prices in the period 1993-97.
The purpose of the investigation is to ascertain whether the parallel pricing offered and applied by these companies in tenders and private negotiations to supply local health boards and hospitals is the result of agreements between them to restrict competition, prohibited under section 2 of the Competition Act. More specifically, the evidence that has been collected suggests that there may exist a mechanism whereby the companies concerned lay down a uniform pricing level for their non-ionic radiopaque agents.
The other purpose of the investigation is to see whether the parallel pricing is evidence of a more general agreement between the companies concerned to coordinate their commercial conduct for the supply of radiopaque agents on the Italian market.
The investigation will be concluded by 24 November 2000.
Rome, 9 February 2000