The manufacturer of Priadel, a brand of lithium widely used to treat bipolar disorder, has halted plans to withdraw the drug after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into whether the company had broken the law.1 Essential Pharma had previously announced it would withdraw the drug in April 2021 forcing patients to switch to alternative, more expensive brands. Priadel costs £4.02 (€4.4; $5) for a pack of 400 mg tablets. The company also owns the other main brand of lithium, Camcolit, and recently increased its price to £48.18 per pack of 400 mg tablets. The CMA is investigating whether Essential Pharma has “abused a dominant position” by withdrawing Priadel and pushing patients towards its more expensive alternative treatment. It said it has reasonable grounds to suspect Essential …

中文翻译：

---

Priadel：竞争监督机构调查期间暂停提取双相药物的计划

竞争与市场管理局（CMA）对该公司是否违反法律进行调查后，广泛用于治疗双相情感障碍的锂品牌Priadel的制造商已暂停了撤回该药物的计划。1Essential Pharma此前已宣布它将在2021年4月撤回该药物，迫使患者改用其他更昂贵的品牌。一包400毫克片剂的Priadel售价为4.02英镑（4.4欧元； 5美元）。该公司还拥有锂的另一个主要品牌Camcolit，最近将其价格提高至每包400毫克片剂48.18英镑。CMA正在调查Essential Pharma是否通过撤回Priadel并将患者推向其更昂贵的替代治疗来“滥用支配地位”。它说有合理的理由怀疑Essential……