FTC Approves Final Order Preserving Competition for Generic Antibacterial Drug Minocycline

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s $4 billion acquisition of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. would likely be anticompetitive.

Under the order, first announced in January 2015, Sun is required to divest Ranbaxy’s interests in generic minocycline tablets to India-based Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a global drug company that markets generic drugs in the United States. Sun must also sell Ranbaxy’s generic minocycline capsules to Torrent to enable Torrent to obtain regulatory approval for its tablets as quickly as Ranbaxy would have absent the deal.

The Commission vote approving the final order was 5-0. (FTC File No. 141 0134; the staff contact is Aylin M. Skroejer, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2459)

The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust{at}ftc{dot}gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room CC-5422, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.