(Reuters) – Theramex said on Friday it was considering concerns raised by Britain’s competition watchdog’s phase 1 probe over the company’s purchase of European rights to two of U.S. drugmaker Viatris’ women’s healthcare products ranges.
The company in a statement to Reuters said the regulator’s decision is a normal step in the merger review process and will not have an impact on its ability to supply existing hormone replacement therapies (HRT) products in the UK.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had said a day before that the deal could lead to higher prices and fewer options for HRT, as Theramex is one of the largest suppliers in the HRT market in the UK.
The regulator said both parties have five working days to respond before the deal is put through a phase 2 investigation.
(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
