Italian Medicines Regulator and Competition Authority enter into collaboration agreement

On 19 January 2017, the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) and the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) signed a memorandum of understanding aiming at increasing cooperation and coordination of their respective enforcement functions including by means of information exchanges.

The four-page document establishes a framework and sets forth specific means for enhanced cooperation between the two authorities, including: (i) mutual reporting functions; (ii) collaboration in investigations within areas of common interest; (iii) document, data and information exchanges; (iv) establishment of thematic working groups with a view to formulate joint interpretations of the rules applicable to the pharmaceutical sector.

Execution of the agreement will likely trigger stricter scrutiny of companies’ behaviour in the Italian pharmaceutical market in the coming years.

This post was originally co-authored by Marco de Morpurgo.