Dutch antitrust regulators probe Biogen over test for its MS drug

Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter.

Dutch anti-trust regulators are investigating allegations that Biogen may have abused its dominant position in the market for multiple sclerosis treatments and associated blood tests.

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, also known by its Dutch acronym ACM, is probing whether the company reserved a test for patients who are treated with Tysabri, its MS drug, and refusing to make the test available to patients on rival medications, such as Tyruko, a biosimilar version that is sold by Sandoz.

Patients who are treated with Tysabri, Biogen’s biggest-selling medicine, must be regularly tested for the risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, an infection caused by a virus that may be fatal or result in severe disability. Biogen developed a test for the virus and provides it free of charge — and exclusively — to patients receiving Tysabri.

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