Pfizer (PFE) has filed a second lawsuit against Metsera (MTSR) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) in regards to the Danish drugmaker’s higher bid for the former, arguing that a Novo acquisition of Metsera would be anticompetitive by allowing Novo to strengthen its “dominant market position” for GLP-1 drugs.
“The lawsuit alleges that Novo Nordisk’s proposed transaction violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act because of the anticompetitive effects it would have in the GLP-1 drug markets to the detriment of millions of Americans who suffer from obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions, that it constitutes an anticompetitive conspiracy between Novo Nordisk and Metsera in restraint of trade in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, and that it constitutes attempted monopolization and conspiracy to monopolize under Section 2 of the Sherman Act,” Pfizer said in a news release.
The drug giant also alleges that several of Metsera’s controlling shareholders, who are venture capital firms, “have conspired with Metsera and Novo Nordisk in furtherance of these anticompetitive activities.
The suit, filed in a Delaware court, comes just days after Pfizer filed a case in the same court on Oct. 31 seeking to stymie Novo’s offer by claiming breach of contract and other factors.