EU Investigates Vifor for Alleged Anticompetitive Actions Regarding Intravenous Iron Treatment

The EU has launched a formal investigation into Vifor Pharma to assess whether the company restricted competition by disparaging the safety of a competitor’s iron deficiency treatment.

The allegations focused on Pharmacosmos’ intravenous iron treatment Monofer (iron isomaltoside 1000), which could compete against Vifor’s Ferinject (ferric carboxymaltose).

“The dissemination of misleading information regarding the safety of Pharmacosmos' iron deficiency treatment, Monofer, may have delayed its uptake. This would ultimately harm patients by stifling competition from an innovative medicine,” said Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for competition.

Vifor’s sales for Ferinject, which is also sold as Injectafer in the U.S., brought in more than $688 million in 2021.