Indian-origin pharma boss banned in Britain

London, June 5

An Indian-origin pharmaceutical industry chief has signed undertakings that ban him from holding a director role at any UK company for the next five years, in connection with his role in companies that were allegedly involved in illegal arrangements such as price-fixing of drugs.

Amit Patel, a former director at pharmaceutical companies Auden McKenzie and Amilco, was the subject of a UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, which concluded with the ban on Thursday.

“Company directors have a responsibility to make sure their companies comply with competition law. And the CMA is determined to protect the public from directors who fail to do so,” said Michael Grenfell, the CMA’s Executive Director of Enforcement.

From September 2014 to May 2015, when Patel was director at Auden McKenzie, the CMA found that Auden McKenzie and King Pharmaceuticals Ltd agreed that King would supply only 25mg tablets and Auden Mckenzie only 10mg tablets and they also agreed to fix quantities and prices to the wholesaler. — PTI