Nortriptyline supply games lead to £3.4 million in fines for firms

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found that four pharmaceutical companies broke the law in relation to the supply of the anti-depressant drug nortriptyline.

This investigation has resulted in fines totalling more than £3.4 million ($4.4 million), and a payment of £1 million directly to the National Health Service (NHS). It has also led to the disqualification of a company director.

The first breach of competition law relates to King Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and Auden Mckenzie, which have now admitted breaking the law. Rather than competing, they were found to have shared out between them the supply of nortriptyline to a large pharmaceutical wholesaler.