On 20 June 2022, the European Commission opened a formal antitrust investigation to determine whether Vifor Pharma had restricted competition by illegaly discrediting its number one competitor in Europe in the intravenous iron treatment market, Pharmacosmos. [1] Vifor Pharma’s actions appear to have been aimed at hindering competition against its drug Ferinject. According to the press release, the Commission has evidence that Vifor Pharma has for many years discredited Monofer by disseminating misleading information about its safety. The Commission has concerns that Vifor Pharma may have conducted a misleading communications campaign directed primarily at healthcare professionals that may have inappropriately impeded the introduction of Monofer into the European Economic Area (“EEA”).

[1] EC press release 20 June 2022, ‘Antitrust: Commission opens investigation into possible anticompetitive disparagement by Vifor Pharma of iron medicine’.