As the Federal Trade Commission scrutinizes the pharmaceutical industry, there is growing debate about whether the regulator may next target a deal that some experts say could make it easier for Novo Nordisk to boost production of a key drug — at the expense of competitors.
At issue is a complicated transaction sparked by sporadic shortages of one of the world’s hottest-selling medications — the weight loss treatment Wegovy. The deal is designed to solve what has been a critical and seemingly intractable problem for the company, but it is also raising questions about fair play and the longer-term effect on consumers.
Here’s why: Last February, Novo Holdings, the investment arm of Novo Nordisk’s parent foundation, agreed to pay $16.5 billion for Catalent, one of the world’s largest so-called contract development and manufacturing organizations. These companies play a crucial, behind-the-scenes role helping drugmakers clear complex production and regulatory hurdles before their medicines reach the marketplace.
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