The Federal Trade Commission yesterday upheld an Administrative Law Judge’s decision that stated assets in the acquisition of Freedom Innovations by Otto Bock Healthcare North America must be divested. The FTC ordered Otto Bock to divest the assets of Freedom Innovations to an FTC-approved buyer. According to the commission, both companies were top sellers of […]
Schein escapes FTC buying group probe
Henry Schein (NSDQ:HSIC) said yesterday that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dismissed claims that it conspired with competitors to avoid giving discounts to buying groups representing dental practitioners. In February 2018, the FTC filed a complaint against Schein, Patterson (NSDQ:PDCO) and Benco alleging violations of U.S. antitrust law by conspiring to refuse to provide such discounts or to […]
FTC clears Boston Sci’s $4B purchase of BTG
The Federal Trade Commission has approved Boston Scientific’s $4 billion acquisition of British medtech company BTG (LON:BTG), according to a regulatory filing. Other antitrust authorities, such as the Federal Competition Authority of Austria and the National Authority for Markets and Competition in Spain, cleared the takeover in the past few weeks, according to the filing. […]
Judge orders Otto Bock to sell top U.S. microprocessor knee competitor
A judge has ordered prosthetics maker Otto Bock Healthcare North America to sell a competitor it acquired in 2017. Otto Bock (Austin, Texas) and smaller competitor Freedom Innovations (Irvine, Calif.) are the top U.S. sellers of microprocessor-equipped prosthetic knees, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which began seeking the divestiture shortly after the merger. […]
Stryker extends deadline on $1.4B K2M buy as shareholders sue
Stryker (NYSE:SYK) yesterday filed to extend the anti-trust deadline on its $1.4 billion acquisition of K2M (NSDQ:KTWO) to give the U.S. Federal Trade Commission more time to examine the deal, as shareholders filed suit to block the merger, K2M said today. The new FTC filing pushes the anti-monopoly waiting period out to Nov. 16, the Leesburg, Va.-based spinal […]
“Snake oil” BP app got high user marks despite inaccurate results
People may like mobile blood pressure apps better when the apps reveal positive results, even if those results are inaccurate 80% of the time, according to a recent study. A team of researchers who previously revealed the inaccuracy of the Instant Blood Pressure (IBP) app returned to the topic to study 81 adults who compared the app’s readings […]
FTC files complaint against Schein, Benco, Patterson over alleged denial of biz to buying groups
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission this week filed a complaint against Henry Schein (NSDQ:HSIC), Patterson (NSDQ:PDCO) and Benco alleging violations of US antitrust law by conspiring to refuse to provide discounts to or to serve buying groups representing dental practitioners, according to a new FTC posting. The three companies, which the FTC claims control more than 85% of […]
FDA, FTC warn companies over deceptive opioid cessation products
The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission have posted joint warning letters to companies that make and distribute opioid cessation products. The two watchdogs warned that the companies are illegally marketing their unapproved products as treatments or even cures for people with opioid addiction and withdrawal. Selling unapproved products as therapies for opioid addiction is […]
Anti-trust regulators want more from BD, Bard on $24B merger
Becton Dickinson & Co. (NYSE:BDX) and C.R. Bard (NYSE:BCR) said last week that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission wants more information on their pending $24 billion merger. The move adds 30 days to the timeline for closing the $317-per-share deal, the companies said, but the acquisition is still slated to close in the fall. “BD and Bard […]
Senate panel adds to call for hearings over Mylan’s EpiPen pricing
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) broke the law after reports claimed the EpiPen maker prevented schools from buying competing allergy treatments. In a letter penned to the FTC, committee chairman Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) wrote, “increasing patient access […]
US Senators urge FTC to probe Baxter, Braun & Hospira saline prices
Four U.S. Senators yesterday wrote the FTC urging a probe into possible illegal saline price inflation of 200-300% since a shortage of the fluid began in late 2013. The letter, sent to FTC chairwoman Edith Ramirez, was signed by Conn. dem senator Richard Blumenthal, Minn. dem Amy Klobuchar and Utah reps. Mike Lee and Orrin […]
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