又一药企因原料药垄断被罚1.95亿元，药品垄断、哄抬药价何时休？

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the issue of pharmaceutical companies engaging in price-fixing and monopolistic practices, leading to significant price increases for essential medications, particularly the drug "新斯的明" (Neostigmine), which has seen price hikes of 11 to 21 times due to collusion among three companies [2][3][19]. Group 1: Price Manipulation and Regulatory Actions - Xianju Pharmaceutical was fined 195 million yuan for its involvement in a monopoly case related to dexamethasone phosphate raw materials [1]. - The price of Neostigmine injection surged from 2-3 yuan to over 30 yuan per unit, representing an increase of over 10 times [6][10]. - The sales revenue of Neostigmine in public medical institutions exceeded 3 billion yuan in 2020, with a year-on-year growth of 446.81% [10]. Group 2: Impact on Patients and Market Dynamics - Neostigmine is critical for treating myasthenia gravis and has no alternative medications, making its price increase particularly harmful to patients [4][14][16]. - The drug was included in the National Shortage Drug List, which pharmaceutical companies used as a pretext for price hikes [11][13]. - By the end of 2024, Neostigmine was included in the tenth batch of centralized procurement, with prices dropping to below 1 yuan per unit, exposing the previous price inflation as unjustified [17][18]. Group 3: Monopolistic Practices and Legal Framework - The collusion among the three companies involved not only price increases but also market division to maintain their market shares [19][20]. - The penalties for monopolistic behavior have historically been light, with the revised Anti-Monopoly Law in 2022 introducing personal liability for executives, marking a shift in enforcement [5][29][35]. - The fines imposed on companies often do not reflect the substantial illegal profits gained from monopolistic practices, leading to calls for stricter enforcement and higher penalties [27][30].