Today, British regulators announced the imposition of a fine on a pharmaceutical company Pfizer and distributor Flynn Pharma for significant overpricing, intended for the sale of the National Health Service (NHS). It is reported that the company's 2600% inflated prices for the drug for the treatment of epilepsy.

As follows from the statement of the British Office for the Protection of Competition and Markets (CMA), «a record fine of £ 84.2 million and £ 5,2 million for Pfizer and Flynn Pharma, respectively, imposed after it became clear that both companies violated laws competition by appointing the UK excessive and unfair prices for phenytoin sodium capsules, used in the treatment of epilepsy. " CMA also ordered the company to reduce prices of the drug.

It is reported that the increase in the price of this drug, including for sale in the UK public health system (NHS) amounted to 2,600% after a drug in September 2012 removed the indication of the brand manufacturer. Price per pack of 100 mg of the drug has increased from £ 2.83 to £ 67,50. By May 2014 the price was slightly reduced - up to £ 54. As a result of price increases NHS costs for this drug increased from £ 2 million in 2012 to £ 50 million in 2013. According to the CMA, the price of the drug in the UK were several times higher than in other European countries. In the NHS drug directly selling distributor Flynn Pharma, which he did by Pfizer.

The investigation revealed that until September 2012 Pfizer manufactured and sold this medicine UK wholesale buyers and pharmacies under the trademark Epanutin, and drug prices under the title subject to regulation. According to CMA data, according to the NHS in the UK it takes more than 48 thousand. Patients. In September 2012, Pfizer sold the rights for distribution in the UK Epanutin companies Flynn Pharma, which debrendirovala it, that is, removed trade name, turning it formally into a generic, which allowed to bring the drug out of the state control over prices. Since September 2012 Pfizer continued to manufacture the drug and supplied his company Flynn Pharma at prices that were significantly higher than the previous - to 780-1600%. And given the charge itself Flynn Pharma pharmacies and drug prices were on the 2300-2600% higher than before.

Who led the investigation into the CMA Philip Marsden emphasized that "the company is specially used the opportunity that gives debranding goods, to increase the price of the drug, which require thousands of patients. All this has led to the fact that the national health system and taxpayers have been forced to pay tens of millions of pounds. "

Itself, Pfizer has said it does not agree with the accusations of regulators and intends to appeal against their decision.