A new EU study (28 November) reveals significant risks to innovation and competition in the pharmaceutical industry from ‘killer acquisitions’—transactions where drug R&D projects are acquired and discontinued without clear justification.
Key findings (2014–2018):
- 240 pharma deals involved overlapping R&D projects.
- 89 cases (18 per year) lacked technical or safety reasons for discontinuation, warranting further scrutiny.
- These deals often occur in highly concentrated markets, exacerbating risks to innovation.
The study underscores the need for enhanced oversight and enforcement to safeguard competition in the pharma sector.
