Published: September 2019

Healthcare mergers result in less choice and higher prescription drug prices for consumers

As the Federal Trade Commission considers signing off on the $63 billion deal between AbbVie and Allergen, advocates warn that the merger will reduce competition in a number of markets where AbbVie and Allergan directly overlap with each other. The deal will also exacerbate competitive problems that already exist in the pharmaceutical drug industry relating to rebate walls and patent abuses.

The pharmaceutical drug industry has become increasingly concentrated in recent years, often resulting in higher prices and reduced choice for consumers. Increasing evidence shows that consumers are paying higher prices for prescription drugs and losing out on access and choice because of less innovation by drug companies. Advocates wrote to the Federal Trade Commission to express concerns about the AbbVie and Allergan merger and urged the antitrust regulator to thoroughly investigate the deal to ensure no further harm to consumers.

Lead Organization

Coalition to Preserve Patient Choice

Other Organizations

Families USA | Public Citizen | U.S. PIRG Education Fund | SEIU | AFSCME | UNITE HERE | Consumer Action | American Federation of Teachers | Alliance for Retired Americans | American Family Voices | Doctors for America | End AIDS Now | Prescription Justice | Social Security Works | the Other 98 | Treatment Action Group | NextGen California

More Information

For more information, please visit the Coalition to Preserve Patient Choice.

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Healthcare mergers result in less choice and higher prescription drug prices for consumers   (AbbVie-Allergan_Merger.pdf)