Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-05-13 11:51Core Viewpoint - Four companies engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy for dexamethasone phosphate raw materials, leading to significant price increases and resulting in administrative penalties exceeding 350 million yuan [1][5][15] Group 1: Companies Involved - The companies involved in the price-fixing conspiracy are Tianjin Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd. (津药药业), Xianju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (仙琚制药), Lianhuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (联环药业), and Xi'an Guokang Ruijin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (西安国康瑞金) [1][5][14] - The main organizer of the conspiracy was identified as an individual named Guo, who facilitated communication and coordination among the companies [5][6] Group 2: Price Changes - The price of dexamethasone phosphate raw materials increased from several thousand yuan per kilogram to over ten thousand yuan, with some companies raising prices as high as 38,000 yuan per kilogram [1][10][14] - Specific price increases included Tianjin Pharmaceutical raising prices from a maximum of 9,000 yuan to 13,800 yuan per kilogram, and Xi'an Guokang Ruijin increasing prices from 7,900 yuan to between 10,000 and 38,000 yuan per kilogram [10][14] Group 3: Administrative Penalties - The total penalties imposed on the companies amounted to over 350 million yuan, with Tianjin Pharmaceutical fined 69.19 million yuan, Xianju Pharmaceutical fined 195.3 million yuan, and Xi'an Guokang Ruijin fined 28.78 million yuan [1][12][13] - Lianhuan Pharmaceutical is expected to face a fine of 61.04 million yuan, with a proposed reduction of 30% due to its cooperation during the investigation [1][11] Group 4: Cooperation and Leniency - Tianjin Pharmaceutical was the first to submit a leniency application, providing crucial evidence and reporting the details of the price-fixing agreement, which led to an 80% reduction in its fine [2][11] - In contrast, Xianju Pharmaceutical and Xi'an Guokang Ruijin did not submit leniency applications, resulting in no reductions in their fines [2][12][14]