The Commerce Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues relating to an application from Pfizer to acquire all of the remaining shares in Hospira.

Pfizer and Hospira are both global companies that manufacture and supply pharmaceutical products.

The statement of preliminary issues outlines the key competition issues that the Commission currently considers will be important in deciding whether or not to grant clearance.

The Commission invites submissions from parties who consider that they have information relevant to the Commission’s consideration of this matter.

Submissions can be sent by email to registrar@comcom.govt.nz with the reference Pfizer/Hospira in the subject line, or by mail to PO Box 2351, Wellington 6140. Any submissions should be received by close of business 29 May 2015.

The statement of preliminary issues and a public version of the application can be found on the Commission’s Clearances Register which is accessible through our website.

Background

Pfizer is a research-based biomedical and pharmaceutical company that is active in discovering, developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling innovative medicines for humans.

Hospira is a provider of injectable pharmaceutical drugs and infusion technologies that it develops, manufactures and distributes worldwide. Hospira focuses predominantly on generic and biosimilar products, rather than innovator pharmaceuticals. Hospira has a particular focus on speciality injectable pharmaceuticals.