四家药企合谋垄断共被罚3.54亿，公司高管被追责罚60万

Core Viewpoint - A significant antitrust fine exceeding 350 million yuan has been imposed on four pharmaceutical companies for colluding to raise the price of dexamethasone phosphate sodium raw materials, with the fines totaling approximately 354 million yuan [1][6][11]. Group 1: Companies Involved - The companies involved in the antitrust case include Zhejiang Xianju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tianjin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Lianhuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Xi'an Guokang Ruijin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. [1][4][6] - Zhejiang Xianju Pharmaceutical received the highest penalty of approximately 195 million yuan, which includes the confiscation of illegal gains and a fine based on 8% of its 2023 sales [3][4]. - Tianjin Pharmaceutical was fined approximately 69.19 million yuan, while Jiangsu Lianhuan was fined around 61.04 million yuan [1][4]. Group 2: Details of the Antitrust Violations - The antitrust violations occurred over a period of two years and four months, during which the companies engaged in price-fixing and supply manipulation of dexamethasone phosphate sodium, a critical medication during the COVID-19 pandemic [5][7][9]. - The companies collectively agreed to raise prices and implemented a supply cut, leading to increased costs for downstream formulations [9][11]. - The price of dexamethasone phosphate sodium was raised significantly, with Xianju Pharmaceutical increasing its price from 8,200 yuan to 10,000 yuan per kilogram, and other companies following suit with similar price hikes [8][11]. Group 3: Individual Accountability - The antitrust enforcement agency has also pursued individual accountability, imposing fines on three company executives of 600,000 yuan each, and an additional 500,000 yuan fine on the individual who organized the collusion, Guo Xiangguo [10][12]. - This case marks a continuation of the trend towards holding individuals accountable for corporate antitrust violations, reinforcing the importance of compliance within the industry [12][13].