ICA investigating Leadiant medicine for the treatment of xanthomatosis

The Italian Antitrust Authority has opened an investigation against Essetifin SpA, Leadiant Biosciences SpA, Leadiant Biosciences Ltd, Leadiant GmbH and Sigma-Tau Arzneimittel GmbH, belonging to the Leadiant group, to verify the allegation that the latter abused its dominant position in the Italian market for the production and sale of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-based medicines for the treatment of the rare disease, cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.

Leadiant has allegedly implemented a single and comprehensive strategy aimed at foreclosing competitors' access to the market for the production of CDCA-based medicines and imposing unjustified excessive prices for the sale of its own medicine, containing this active ingredient, called Leadiant Chenodeoxycholic Acid.

In particular, it would appear that the contract to exclusively supply CDCA, entered into by Leadiant with the chemical company Prodotti Chimici ed Alimentari SpA, one of the main producers of this active ingredient, prevents hospitals –  wishing to ask their own pharmacies to set up galenic production of CDCA-based medicines – from obtaining the raw material necessary to produce medicine for the treatment of this rare disease.