Group 1 - The State Administration for Market Regulation announced two antitrust enforcement cases in the pharmaceutical sector during a press conference on June 13, 2023 [1] - In the case involving the raw material drug Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate, four companies collectively raised the price from 8,000 yuan per kilogram to 13,000 yuan, resulting in a total fine of 362 million yuan [1][2] - The companies involved in the price-fixing agreement included Tianjin Jiyuan Pharmaceutical Co., Zhejiang Xianju Pharmaceutical Co., Jiangsu Lianhuan Pharmaceutical Co., and Xi'an Guokang Ruijin Pharmaceutical Co. [1] Group 2 - The Tianjin Market Regulation Commission imposed administrative penalties, including a maximum fine of 5 million yuan on individual Guo, and confiscated illegal gains from the four companies, totaling 354 million yuan [2] - Each of the four companies was fined 8% of their previous year's sales for participating in the price-fixing agreement, and four responsible individuals were fined 600,000 yuan each [2] - In March 2023, authorities also penalized companies involved in a separate case regarding the injection of Neostigmine Methylsulfate, with total fines amounting to 223 million yuan [2]

以下文章来源于健闻咨询 ，作者健闻咨询 健闻咨询 . 医疗行业跨界洞察 作者 | 一闻 来源 | 健闻咨询 导 语 ：《反垄断法》确定的"没收违法所得"的处罚方式实践中难以完全落实，药企参与垄断的 收益可能远远高于违法成本。 4月24日，仙琚制药发布2024年年度报告，其中提及：公司因涉嫌地塞米松磷酸钠原料药垄断案， 被天津市市场监督管理委员会罚没1.95亿元。 今年3月，也有一款临床短缺药涨价的背后原因，同样是药企的合谋垄断。 一城市的市场监督管理局开出罚单，指出有三家药企合谋推高甲硫酸新斯的明注射液（下称"新斯 的明"）销售价格，使得这款药的价格涨幅高达11~21倍。近期，三家药企被没收违法所得并处罚 款，合计约2.23亿元。 而在此案被查之前，新斯的明的经销商一度曾将药价上涨的原因归结为"原料药价格上涨"，甚至该 药还进入过《国家短缺药品清单》。直到2024年底，该药以不足一元每支的价格进入集采，价格泡 沫才破裂。 如今真相揭开，背后隐藏的其实是三家药企的垄断合谋。 一通电话，救命短缺药涨价20倍 新斯的明注射液的价格，近几年间经历了一轮过山车。 从2020年起，新斯的明突然涨价，以1ml：0.5mg的 ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent antitrust penalties against three pharmaceutical companies in China highlight the exploitation of market concentration to inflate drug prices, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns about unethical practices in the industry [1][7]. Group 1: Antitrust Case Details - Tianjin Municipal Market Supervision Administration imposed a total fine of 326 million yuan on Tianjin Pharmaceutical, Jiangsu Lianhuan Pharmaceutical, and Xianju Pharmaceutical for colluding to manipulate the price of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate [1][7]. - The price of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate surged from approximately 7,900 yuan per kilogram in November 2021 to 45,000 yuan per kilogram by November 2023, indicating a significant price manipulation [1][5]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The concentration of market competition is a key factor enabling these companies to control raw material and formulation prices, with the three companies holding four out of eight approved production licenses for Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate [3][4]. - The demand for Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate injections increased significantly during the pandemic, allowing companies to profit even as costs rose, leading to further price hikes [4][5]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - The Chinese government has adopted a "zero tolerance" approach towards monopolistic behaviors in the pharmaceutical sector, as evidenced by the total fines of 1.772 billion yuan for antitrust cases in 2023 [7]. - The ongoing normalization of national medical insurance procurement and the enhancement of antitrust regulatory frameworks are expected to reduce the gray areas of vertical monopolies in the pharmaceutical industry [7].