Justice Department supports medication distribution effort

Department of Justice officials recently forwarded a Business Review Letter to AmerisourceBergen, notifying the firm there would be no challenge to efforts to aid COVID-19 treatment efforts.

“We commend AmerisourceBergen’s efforts to assist the United States in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through improved supply of medicines to those most in need,” Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the department’s Antitrust Division, said. “We also appreciate AmerisourceBergen’s intention to comply with the antitrust laws, regardless of circumstances. Division staff worked expeditiously to resolve its request for a Business Review Letter within our ambitious seven-day target.”

AmerisourceBergen’s scope of work includes identifying global supply opportunities, ensuring product quality, and facilitating product distribution of medications and other healthcare supplies to treat COVID-19 patients.

The firm is working on several initiatives under the direction of the government to help resolve supply challenges presented by the pandemic, per the Justice Department, focusing on facilitating the government’s efforts to guide medications and other healthcare supplies to the places where they are needed most.

The initiative includes the distribution of hydroxychloroquine from the government’s Strategic National Stockpile to health care providers in areas of greatest need.

AmerisourceBergen submitted its business review request under the expedited, temporary review procedure detailed in the Joint Antitrust Statement Regarding COVID-19 issued by both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on March 24, 2020.