News: CSL UPDATE 1-Vifor Pharma offers to rectify anti-competitive behaviour against rival

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Drug maker Vifor Pharma has offered to rectify its disparaging campaign against the closest rival to its blockbuster iron deficiency medicine Ferinject, EU antitrust regulators said on Friday, a move that would stave off a potential hefty fine and end an antitrust investigation.

Vifor, part of Australian group CSL (CSL) , made the proposal following a two-year investigation by the European Commission.

The EU competition enforcer was concerned by Vifor's allegedly misleading marketing campaign regarding the safety of Danish rival Pharmacosmos' iron deficiency treatment Monofer that primarily targeted healthcare professionals.

Vifor has now offered to launch a comprehensive and multi-channel communication campaign to rectify and undo the effects of the potentially misleading messages regarding the safety of Monofer, the Commission said.

The company will also not engage in external promotional and medical communications, in writing or orally, about Monofer's safety profile over a period of 10 years in the European Economic Area, the EU executive said.

Interested parties have a month to provide feedback on the proposal before the EU watchdog decides whether to accept Vifor's offer and end its investigation without any admission of wrongdoing from Vifor nor any fine.