Navigating competition law and FDI regulation in the pharmaceuticals sector - 2025 Outlook

Competition law enforcement in the pharma sector is a top priority for regulators around the world, as they seek to use antitrust and merger control rules to balance innovation, affordability, and accessibility of medicines for the public. In addition, foreign direct investment (FDI) regulation has become an increasingly important consideration in recent years for cross-border pharma M&A, with many regimes imposing mandatory notification obligations in this sector. Pharmaceutical companies – and investors in this sector – must therefore be particularly alert to competition law and FDI risks and take pro-active steps to minimise them.

To assist clients in navigating the increasingly complex landscape, a new episode has been published in our CRTea podcast series with an accompanying guide, now available on HSF Competition Notes. 

The podcast and guide focus on navigating competition law and FDI regulation in the pharmaceutical sector, sharing insights into key risks to be aware of and offering practical tips on pro-active steps that companies can take to address them. Topics discussed include:

• the types of anti-competitive agreements that are likely to be in the regulatory spotlight
• significant developments in respect of abuse of dominance
• the growing risk of competition damages actions
• the approach of the UK and EU regulators to so-called "killer acquisitions"
• the sensitivities around foreign investment in the pharmaceutical sector

The guide is also available here.