Warren Urges FTC to Protect Cancer Patients, Closely Scrutinize Acquisitions of Oncology Practices for Anticompetitive Effects

Press Release

“I am concerned that, by allowing wholesalers to assume control over the few remaining community oncology practices, which have historically provided an affordable alternative to hospital-based cancer care, these deals could stifle competition and lead to even higher costs for patients.

“By controlling oncology practices, Cardinal and McKesson can require affiliated practices to enter into sole-source or prime vendor agreements with their wholesale businesses, ‘lock[ing] them in as customers’ and effectively blocking competing wholesalers from offering their services.

“These deals threaten to limit competition by opening the door for Cardinal and McKesson to expand their control of the already highly-concentrated oncology market by restricting affiliated oncology practices from contracting with rival drug wholesalers. Accordingly, I urge the Federal Trade Commission … to closely scrutinize these proposed deals and block them if they violate antitrust law.”

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