Investigation into suspected anti-competitive conduct by Vifor Pharma in relation to intravenous iron treatments
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-15)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated whether Vifor Pharma might have abused a dominant position through its conduct in relation to intravenous iron treatments.

Case timetable

Monitoring Trustee

Appointment of Monitoring Trustee

15 July 2025: The CMA has approved the appointment of Alcis Advisers by Vifor Pharma as Monitoring Trustee, to monitor compliance with the binding commitments accepted by the CMA on 23 May 2025.

Contact the Monitoring Trustee
- Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- Address: Alcis Advisers GmbH, Fasanenstraße 73,10719, Berlin, Germany
Decision to accept binding commitments

23 May 2025: The CMA published a non-confidential version of its decision to accept commitments from Vifor Pharma in relation to intravenous iron treatments.
- Non-confidential decision (PDF, 674KB) (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68302d24e9440506ee953a17/Non-confidential_decision.pdf) (23.5.25)
To address the CMA’s competition concerns, Vifor Pharma has committed to:
- make a voluntary payment of £23 million to the NHS
- correct any potentially misleading communications disseminated by Vifor Pharma regarding the safety of Monofer and Ferinject, via a multi-channel communications campaign to healthcare professionals
- introduce several compliance measures to prevent the future dissemination of potentially misleading communications regarding the safety of Monofer and Ferinject to healthcare professionals
Consultation on commitments

10 December 2024: The CMA published a Notice of intention to accept commitments offered by Vifor Pharma and invited representations from interested third parties on the proposed commitments. The commitments offered by Vifor Pharma – which include an ex gratia payment of £23 million to the NHS and a communication campaign – seek to address the CMA’s competition concerns regarding Vifor Pharma making potentially misleading claims about a competitor’s intravenous iron treatment. The CMA will consider any representations made in response to the consultation before making a final decision on whether or not to accept the proposed commitments.

Consultation on proposed commitments (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposed-commitments-in-respect-of-vifor-pharmas-supply-of-intravenous-iron) (10.12.24)

Press release: NHS set to benefit from £23 million following CMA pharma probe (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-set-to-benefit-from-23-million-following-cma-pharma-probe) (10.12.24)

Case information

On 31 January 2024, the CMA launched an investigation under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 into a suspected breach of competition law by Vifor Pharma, relating to concerns that Vifor Pharma may have misleadingly disparaged a competing iron treatment, Monofer, by making misleading claims about the safety of Monofer and Vifor Pharma’s own product, Ferinject, which were designed to hinder competition from a rival product and promote Ferinject. Monofer and Ferinject are iron treatments used to intravenously treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.
- Press notice: CMA investigates Vifor Pharma to safeguard essential anaemia treatment (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-investigates-vifor-pharma-to-safeguard-essential-anaemia-treatment) (31.1.24)
Notes

The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement or infringements of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to any party under investigation. Not all cases result in the CMA issuing a statement of objections

The CMA will consider any representations it receives before any decision is taken as to whether competition law has been infringed

Further detail of the CMA’s procedures in Competition Act 1998 cases is available in our guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-the-cmas-investigation-procedures-in-competition-act-1998-cases)

Changes to the timing of original entries in the case timetable will be made if the estimated timing changes

Contact

Assistant Director, Neil Maxey-Branch xx-xxxx-xxxx, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx))

Project Director, Andrew Groves xx-xxxx-xxxx, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx))

Juliette Enser xx-xxxx-xxxx, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx))

Media enquiries, xx-xxxx-xxxx, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its investigations, including investigations under the Competition Act 1998. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

You can find more information about how the CMA handles personal information in the CMA’s Personal Information Charter (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about/personal-information-charter).