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State will investigate drug companies
for limiting Canadian supplies
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[OCT. 3, 2003]
CHICAGO --
Continuing his effort to tear down barriers to affordable
prescription drugs, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on Thursday called on
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to investigate possible
antitrust violations by major pharmaceutical companies that are
fighting to keep U.S. consumers from obtaining prescription
medications on the lower-priced Canadian market.
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"If American consumers can't
get fair prices on their medications here in the U.S., then they're
going to find a way to get those same medications for a lower price
elsewhere. The pharmaceutical companies see the writing on the wall
and are going to great lengths to protect their U.S. profit margins.
We want to know exactly how far they are going. If we find they are
violating the law to keep prices high, we'll take action," said
Blagojevich.
Specifically, the governor is
asking Madigan to look into whether the pharmaceutical companies are
illegally conspiring to limit supply to Canada, which would violate
state and federal antitrust laws.
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this article]
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Blagojevich's announcement
comes after at least four major pharmaceutical makers have
restricted supply to Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers that sell
to American consumers. The actions of GlaxoSmithKline PLC,
AstraZeneca PLC, Wyeth and Pfizer Inc. limit the ability of Canadian
pharmacies to provide medications to Americans, forcing consumers to
buy in the U.S., which has the world's highest drug prices.
Minnesota's attorney general
recently opened an investigation into GlaxoSmithKline's boycott of
Canadian pharmacies that export drugs to the United States.
"If
drug-makers are acting in a manner that hurts seniors and other
consumers in Illinois, then we're going to do something about it,"
Blagojevich said.
[Illinois
Government News Network
news release]
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