Investigation into agreements in the pharmaceutical sector
Case reference: CE/9531-11
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Summary of work (updated 19 April 2013)
In August 2011, the OFT opened an investigation into certain patent dispute settlement agreements relating to paroxetine, a medicine used in the treatment of disorders such as depression and anxiety disorder.
On 19 April 2013, the OFT issued a Statement of Objections alleging that certain pharmaceutical companies have infringed competition law in relation to the UK supply of paroxetine. The parties now have a full opportunity to respond to the Statement of Objections before the OFT decides whether competition law has in fact been infringed.
For further details, see press release OFT issues statement of objections to certain pharmaceutical companies (19 April 2013).
No assumption should be made at this stage that there has been an infringement of competition law.
Case timetable
| Milestone | Date |
| Investigation opened | August 2011 (actual) |
| Initial investigation: information gathering, including issuance of formal or informal information requests and parties' responses | August 2011 - January 2012 (actual) |
| OFT analysis and review of parties' responses to initial information requests | September 2011 - February 2012 (actual) |
| - OFT analysis and review of parties' responses to information requests - Issue of further information requests - Internal governance processes to decide investigation outcome |
March 2012 - April 2013 (actual) |
| Investigation outcome (statement of Objections; case closure - see Procedural Guidance) | Statement of Objections issued on 19 April 2013 (actual) |
| Period for representations on the Statement of Objections | August 2013 (estimate) |
| Oral hearings with parties on written representations on Statement of Objections. | September 2013 (estimate) |
| OFT consideration of parties' written and oral representations on the Statement of Objections | October 2013 - October 2014 (estimate) |
| Final decision on case outcome (whether there has been an infringement; case closure). if limited further significant investigative/ procedural steps necessary | October 2014 (estimate) |
Change Log
The following changes have been made to the administrative timetable since it was first published in October 2012:
| Date of change | Reason for change | Nature of change made to timetable |
| 25 February 2013 | Requirement for further review and changes to scope of the investigation | Estimated timing of investigation set back by two months |
Senior responsible officer
Ann Pope (020 7211 8786, ann.pope@oft.gsi.gov.uk)
Project director
Geoffrey Steadman (020 7211 8810, geoffrey.steadman@oft.gsi.gov.uk)
Team Leader
Dan Moore (020 7211 5828, dan.moore@oft.gsi.gov.uk)
Media enquiries
Any media enquiries should be directed to a member of our Press Office.
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