Pfizer’s UK distribution arrangements subject of court battle

Pfizer’s controversial plans to assume complete responsibility for the supply and distribution of its drugs, bypassing wholesalers in the process, will soon be the subject of a courtroom battle.

Alliance Boots, which owns the UniChem company Pfizer has hired to handle its distribution arrangements, has filed a lawsuit against the European Association of Pharmaceutical Full-Line Wholesalers (Girp), the Times reports.

Pfizer and UniChem claim that the new distribution arrangements will lessen the risk of counterfeit medicines will reach consumers, following a recurring problem of batches of fake Lipitor circulating the UK market.

Wholesalers have said the new distribution deal is anticompetitive and that it tacitly implies that wholesalers are to blame for the counterfeit drugs. Girp wishes to block the arrangements and has the support of 40 MPs.

However, Alliance Boots has taken Girp to a European court as it claims that the industry body has acted unconstitutionally in writing to the government for help, according to the newspaper.

Last month, Girp claimed that a members’ meeting was disrupted by a delegate from Alliance UniChem who launched a “continuous verbal and uninvited attack on the meeting”.

Members expressed “disbelief” at the representative’s behaviour, the industry group stated.