News Article
Spanish competition agency vetoes “competition threatening” radiopharma deal
Spain’s competition agency (CNMC) has prohibited Curium Pharma Holding Spain (Curium), a global leader in nuclear medicine, from acquiring Institut de Radiofarmacia Aplicada de Barcelona (IRAB).
It said on Monday, October 6 that the merger poses an obstacle to effective competition in the markets for PET radiopharmaceuticals which are used in cancer detection tests, and contract manufacturing services to third parties of PET radiopharmaceuticals.
The CNMC concluded that there is no viable condition that could be imposed on Curium to effectively resolve the structural risks, both horizontal and vertical.
The prohibition is not final. The matter will be passed to the Minister for Economy, Trade and Enterprise, who will decide whether to pas the issue up to the Council of Ministers for review.
Curium operates multiple manufacturing facilities in Spain, including two sites in Madrid and one in Sevilla, maintaining 27 operational centres across Spain, with 4 in Madrid and 11 in Andalucía , covering key regions except Catalonia.
Institut de Radiofarmacia Aplicada de Barcelona (IRAB) is a pharmaceutical laboratory in Barcelona. It develops and manufactures radiopharmaceuticals, particularly PET radiopharmaceuticals, for clinical diagnosis, research, and commercial use.
