July 7, 2014
(ASCA) - Rome, July 7, 2014 - The pharmaceutical company Roche announces in a note that it will pay the millionaire fine imposed by the Antitrust for the alleged cartel with Novartis, in the context of the 'Avastin-Lucentis' case, but only "to avoid interest" and trusting that the Lazio Regional Administrative Court will rule in its favor after the appeal lodged against the decision of the Competition Authority.
“In view of the recent request for payment by the Agcm, which contradicts what was defined before the Lazio Regional Administrative Court on May 28, Roche – reads the press release – has decided to pay the fine imposed last March, in order not to incur the payment of interest on the fine. The payment must be returned to Roche in the event of a favorable decision by the Lazio Regional Administrative Court by the end of 2014".
The company also underlines that "the payment does not imply the recognition of any responsibility on the part of Roche, which confirms its total confidence in the validity of its reasons and in the positive outcome of the Lazio Regional Administrative Court, also supported by the orientation taken by the Higher Health Council, which reaffirmed the difference between ranibizumab and bevacizumab, establishing strict conditions for the use of the latter in the ophthalmological field".
