The Spanish National Court annuls CNC decision closing pharmaceutical dual pricing case (European Association of Euro-Pharmaceutical Companies / Pfizer / Novartis / Sanofi-Aventis)

On December 5, 2012, the Spanish National Court (Audiencia Nacional or “AN”) annulled the decision of the Spanish Competition Commission (formerly called Comisión Nacional de la Competencia or “CNC”) [1], to close file S/0017/07. The AN considered that the CNC should have further investigated whether the alleged pharmaceutical dual pricing system breached EU competition law. Background On September 14, 2009, the CNC decided not to open formal proceedings against Pfizer S.A. (“PFIZER”), Novartis Farmacéutica S.A. (“NOVARTIS”), Sanofi-Aventis España S.A. (“SANOFI”), Lilly S.A. (“LILLY”), Janssen-Cilag S.A. (“JC”), and Merck Sharp & Dohme España S.A. (“MSD”), and to close its investigation on file S/0017/07, relating to a claim filed by the European Association of