French competition authority investigating Roche and Novartis over Lucentis marketing

Following similar recent action by the equivalent Italian body, the French competition authority is launching an investigation into possible anti-competitive practices by Swiss pharma majors Roche (ROG: SIX) and Novartis (NOVN: VX) relating to their ophthalmic drug Lucentis (ranibizumab).

Without naming the companies, a statement on the French Autorite de la Concurrence web site said it had conducted "search and confiscation" operations on April 8 in relation to treatments for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Just last month, Italy’s anti-trust authority, the Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), said that Roche and Novartis had colluded to exclude the cheaper cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab) sold by Roche, used in the treatment of the most common eyesight condition in the elderly as well as other serious sight problems, and channel demand towards the much more expensive drug Lucentis, through an artificial distinction between the two products (The Pharma Letter March 6). Novartis and Roche were imposed fines totaling 92 million euros ($126 million) and 90.5 million euros, respectively.