Alchem Fined $576,000 for Role in EU Pharmaceutical Cartel

Alchem International and its Hong Kong subsidiary have been fined $576,000 (489,000 euros) by EU antitrust regulators for their involvement in a 12-year pharmaceutical cartel, according to a statement issued on July 4, 2025.

The European Commission previously fined companies, including Alkaloids of Australia, Boehringer, and Linnea, a total of 13.4 million euros in 2023 for price-fixing the key ingredient used in Buscopan and its generic versions. While other participants admitted their role in exchange for reduced fines, Alchem was the only producer that refused to settle and faced a separate penalty.

EU Antitrust Chief Teresa Ribera stated, “Our investigation revealed that Alchem illegally coordinated prices and allocated quotas for over a decade.” This cartel activity manipulated the pricing of a critical pharmaceutical ingredient, impacting market competition and consumer costs.

The investigation highlights the growing vigilance of EU regulators in addressing anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry.