STAT+: Greece’s antitrust regulator probes Novartis over practices tied to a pricey eye drug
Greece’s antitrust regulator is investigating allegations that, over a nine-year period, Novartis paid doctors and institutions to prescribe a pricey treatment for a serious eye disease and also disparaged rival medicines.
In a brief statement, the Hellenic Competition Commission disclosed it is probing evidence the company paid physicians for travel to conferences and participation in studies in order to boost sales of Lucentis, which is used to treat age-related macular degeneration, a common disease among the elderly that can lead to blindness. The regulator also indicated Novartis provided “donations” to doctors.
At the same time, the agency is examining accusations that the drug company disseminated “defamatory claims and news” in hopes of influencing physicians and consumers to favor its own treatment over competing medicines. These practices, which occurred between 2009 and 2017, allegedly harmed the country and patients.
