18 March 2019 - The Competition and Markets Authority has closed its investigation into a suspected anti-competitive discount scheme developed by Merck Sharp & Dohme after finding no grounds for action.

The case began when the Authority claimed the discount scheme was designed to delay or reduce competition from other suppliers of MSD’s Remicade (infliximab), a drug used to treat chronic illnesses such as Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

MSD allegedly introduced the discount scheme after Remicade’s patent expired in early 2015 in an attempt to ensure the NHS would continue to use mostly Remicade, rather than competitors’ newer and cheaper versions - biosimilars - of infliximab.

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