Spanish authorities have launched disciplinary proceedings against French molecular imaging firm Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) and global nuclear medicine firm Curium for alleged anticompetition practices in Spain.
The Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) is investigating whether Advanced Accelerator Applications Ibérica and Curium Pharma Spain colluded on market sharing and price fixing, as well as an exchange of other information regarding the production and marketing of PET radiopharmaceuticals in Spain between 2014 and November 2018.
In addition, the commission is looking into whether AAA used its dominant market position to hinder the entry of new competitors into the country to produce and market PET radiopharmaceuticals between 2017 and November 2018. Proceedings also are being brought against "certain managers of some of the companies in question," according to CNMC.
The allegations stem from inspections conducted by the commission in November 2018 at the headquarters of several companies operating in Spain after suspicions surfaced about the existence of possible anticompetitive practices prohibited by the country's Defense of Competition Act.
"The commencement of these proceedings does not prejudge the final conclusion of the investigation," the CNMC noted in a statement. "The case must now be investigated, and a decision must be handed down in relation to it within a maximum of 18 months."
